The Dioceses of the Church of Greece, Crete, and the Dodecanese will now be given the opportunity to hire unemployed persons with five month contracts within the framework of a European program.

Riot police used teargas to disperse protesting LARCO miners and metal workers that proceeded to take over the a national highway at 13.00 this afternoon, in protest over the possible shutdown of the company.

Government vice president and foreign minister Evangelos Venizelos categorically refuted an article in German newspaper Die Zeit, according to which he had asked European Central Bank board member Joerg Assmusen to alter data on the Greek deficit.

Twenty four arrest were made after a police sweep in the areas of Vrahati and Nemea, in Corinthia prefecture. During the sweep, police conducted spot checks on 280 persons, 109 vehicles, and 7 stores.