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| Firefighters 'quell Greek blazes' | Firefighters 'quell Greek blazes' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Firefighters have beaten back most of the major fires ravaging the Greek countryside, officials say. | Firefighters have beaten back most of the major fires ravaging the Greek countryside, officials say. |
| Blazes continue to rage in the gutted Peloponnese region and Evia island, but emergency crews say they are "generally receding" and have been contained. | Blazes continue to rage in the gutted Peloponnese region and Evia island, but emergency crews say they are "generally receding" and have been contained. |
| The government has called for national unity, but faces growing anger at its handling of the crisis, with crowds due to gather in Athens later to protest. | The government has called for national unity, but faces growing anger at its handling of the crisis, with crowds due to gather in Athens later to protest. |
| At least 63 people have died in the blazes since Friday. | At least 63 people have died in the blazes since Friday. |
| Fire service official spokesman Nikolaos Diamantis said the danger was not yet over, and firefighting equipment would remain in place throughout the country. | Fire service official spokesman Nikolaos Diamantis said the danger was not yet over, and firefighting equipment would remain in place throughout the country. |
| I've been coming here for the last 15 years on holiday with my children. It was a paradise here and now it is hell Fire survivor href="/1/hi/business/6968799.stm">Economic toll of Greece fires class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6966518.stm">Greeks face fire dilemma Counting the fires' eco-cost | |
| But he was upbeat in his assessment of the current blazes, saying: "We are optimistic about the outcome of our fight against the fires. | But he was upbeat in his assessment of the current blazes, saying: "We are optimistic about the outcome of our fight against the fires. |
| "They are now limited and there is no danger of them spreading." | "They are now limited and there is no danger of them spreading." |
| It is feared that the hot, dry winds that have help to spread the flames from region to region could return and rekindle the fires. | It is feared that the hot, dry winds that have help to spread the flames from region to region could return and rekindle the fires. |
| Many of the communities devastated over the weekend are just starting to count the cost. | Many of the communities devastated over the weekend are just starting to count the cost. |
| In the tiny village of Frixa on the Peloponnesian peninsula, acrid smoke continued to swirl around the charred olive groves and farmland. | In the tiny village of Frixa on the Peloponnesian peninsula, acrid smoke continued to swirl around the charred olive groves and farmland. |
| Greece battles against devastating forest firesIn pictures | Greece battles against devastating forest firesIn pictures |
| "Everything we had has gone. We had oil, we lived off the olives. Its all gone," 77-year-old Athanassia Kazakopoulou told Reuters news agency. | "Everything we had has gone. We had oil, we lived off the olives. Its all gone," 77-year-old Athanassia Kazakopoulou told Reuters news agency. |
| Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has pledged to act fast in restoring power to devastated villages and rebuilding houses. | Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has pledged to act fast in restoring power to devastated villages and rebuilding houses. |
| His government has also started to give out instant compensation to those affected. | His government has also started to give out instant compensation to those affected. |
| A general election, planned for 16 September, has helped to politicise the crisis, with the opposition Socialist Party being heavily critical of the government. | A general election, planned for 16 September, has helped to politicise the crisis, with the opposition Socialist Party being heavily critical of the government. |
| I spent Saturday night on the roof of my house watching a fire steadily progressing down the mountain towards us PatienceBBC News website reader in Kalamata Send us your comments | I spent Saturday night on the roof of my house watching a fire steadily progressing down the mountain towards us PatienceBBC News website reader in Kalamata Send us your comments |
| The Socialists described the handling of the crisis as a "national humiliation". | The Socialists described the handling of the crisis as a "national humiliation". |
| The authorities believe some of the fires were started deliberately, and more than 30 people have been arrested so far. | The authorities believe some of the fires were started deliberately, and more than 30 people have been arrested so far. |
| A 1m euro (£680,000) reward has been offered to help catch those responsible. | A 1m euro (£680,000) reward has been offered to help catch those responsible. |
| There have been 120 major forest fires this year, compared with just 52 in of 2006. | There have been 120 major forest fires this year, compared with just 52 in of 2006. |
| Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the fires? You can send us your comments and experiences using the form below: | Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the fires? You can send us your comments and experiences using the form below: |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |