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| Greeks protest over fire response | Greeks protest over fire response |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Thousands of Greeks have protested over the political response to forest fires that have killed 63 people and left thousands homeless. | |
| An estimated 8,000 people filled a square in front of the parliament building in the capital, Athens. | An estimated 8,000 people filled a square in front of the parliament building in the capital, Athens. |
| Meanwhile, the opposition Socialist party said the government's suggestion of a terror-like campaign of arson was designed to cover up its own failures. | Meanwhile, the opposition Socialist party said the government's suggestion of a terror-like campaign of arson was designed to cover up its own failures. |
| The verbal attack comes two-and-a-half weeks before a general election. | The verbal attack comes two-and-a-half weeks before a general election. |
| Polls suggest the Socialists are trailing the ruling New Democracy Party. | Polls suggest the Socialists are trailing the ruling New Democracy Party. |
| Stun grenades | Stun grenades |
| A silent demonstration was held in central Athen's Syndagma square on Wednesday. Many people were dressed in black and carried banners that read: "No to the destruction of nature". | A silent demonstration was held in central Athen's Syndagma square on Wednesday. Many people were dressed in black and carried banners that read: "No to the destruction of nature". |
| Satellite images show how the spread of the fires is changingEnlarge Image | Satellite images show how the spread of the fires is changingEnlarge Image |
| "I am annoyed by the apathy and hypocrisy of politicians. I am angry that we allowed this tragedy to happen," Apostolis Giannakidis, 24, told Reuters news agency. | "I am annoyed by the apathy and hypocrisy of politicians. I am angry that we allowed this tragedy to happen," Apostolis Giannakidis, 24, told Reuters news agency. |
| Some protesters taunted riot police, who responded with stun grenades. | Some protesters taunted riot police, who responded with stun grenades. |
| A demonstration in the northern city of Thessaloniki drew a crowd of about 1,000, many wearing T-shirts with the slogan: "We are all Peloponnesians." | A demonstration in the northern city of Thessaloniki drew a crowd of about 1,000, many wearing T-shirts with the slogan: "We are all Peloponnesians." |
| Firefighters said on Wednesday that they had beaten back most of the major fires ravaging the Greek countryside. | Firefighters said on Wednesday that they had beaten back most of the major fires ravaging the Greek countryside. |
| But fire service official spokesman Nikolaos Diamantis said the danger was not yet over, and firefighting equipment would remain in place throughout the country. | But fire service official spokesman Nikolaos Diamantis said the danger was not yet over, and firefighting equipment would remain in place throughout the country. |
| Fast action | Fast action |
| 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. |
| 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 Economic toll of Greece fires Greeks face fire dilemma | 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 Economic toll of Greece fires Greeks face fire dilemma |
| 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. |
| 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. |