GREECE: Greek leftist guerrillas formally take responsibility for attack on U.S. embassy and threaten more attacks

Greek leftist guerrillas who launched a rocket propelled grenade against the American embassy in Athens on January 12 threatened on Thursday (January 25) to stage more attacks against Greek and U.S. targets. The Revolutionary Struggle group claimed responsibility for the most daring Greek attack in recent years in a five-page proclamation published in the Athens weekly, "To Pontiki", criticising the United States and their ally Greece. "Our victorious battles against this establishment will show how vulnerable it is. (We aim) to get rid of U.S. military bases and NATO from our country and overthrow those who work with them," the group said in the proclamation. the existence of Revolutionary Struggle became known four years ago and its attack against the embassy has elevated it to Greece's newest security threat since the dismantling of the once-deadly November 17 group in 2002. While the heavily-guarded building sustained only minor damage, police fear the daring pre-dawn strike in the city centre marks the start of a new cycle of major violence that had ended with the capture of November 17, who had killed 23 Greek and foreign diplomats before being caught. Most of proclamation is a strongly-worded condemnation of U.S. foreign policy, mainly in Iraq and the wider Middle East, and the Greek government, which is slammed as a "blind" U.S. ally. The group said its attack was dedicated to Iraqi "resistance which is crushing the U.S. war machine," adding it had made many Lebanese, Iraqis and Palestinians happy. It made references to Greece's Public Order and Foreign Ministers, both of whom rushed to the embassy soon after the attack to publicly condemn it, calling them "praetorians" of the U.S. government. The Greek government said the investigation into the attack was ongoing but refused to comment on the tract. "The government does not enter into any dialogue whatsoever with terrorists," spokesman Evangelos Antonaros told reporters after fielding repeated questions on the claim. The group bombed the Greek Economy Ministry in 2005 where one person was only slightly injured, and also placed an explosive device near the home of the culture minister in 2006 in an assassination attempt. No one was injured in that bombing. No member of the guerrilla group has ever been caught. Leftist guerrillas who fired a grenade at the American embassy in Athens this month threatened on Thursday (January 25) to stage more attacks on Greek and U.S. targets. The Revolutionary Struggle group claimed responsibility for the attack in a five-page proclamation published in an Athens weekly, criticising the United States and its ally Greece. "Our victorious battles against this establishment will show how vulnerable it is. (We aim) to get rid of U.S. military bases and NATO from our country and overthrow those who work with them," the group said in the tract published in To Pontiki. Revolutionary Struggle emerged four years ago. Its rocket-propelled grenade attack on the embassy has made it Greece's biggest security threat since the dismantling of the November 17 group in 2002. While the heavily-guarded building sustained only minor damage, police fear the pre-dawn strike marks the start of a new cycle of violence. The Greek government said the investigation into the attack was continuing and refused to comment on the tract. "The government does not enter into a dialogue with terrorists," spokesman Evangelos Antonaros told reporters. The proclamation sent to the paper condemned U.S. foreign policy, mainly in Iraq and the wider Middle East, and the Greek government as a "blind" U.S. ally. The group said its embassy attack was dedicated to Iraqi "resistance which is crushing the U.S. war machine", adding it had made many Lebanese, Iraqis and Palestinians happy. "Our attack against the U.S. embassy is a message that not only is Greece not aligned to this established order but there is also a battle. There is an armed battle against the New Order," it said. It mentioned Greece's Public Order Minister Byron Polydoras and Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyanni, who rushed to the embassy soon after the attack to publicly condemn it, calling them "praetorians" of the U.S. government. Such references to individuals by Greek guerrilla groups sometimes indicate new targets. Revolutionary Struggle has in the past bombed the Greek Economy Ministry and the Athens court and tried to assassinate Culture Minister George Voulgarakis with a bomb last summer. No member of the guerrilla group has ever been caught.

ITN Source | January 26, 2007

Tags:. .ago. .aim. .athens. .bases. .battles