A German university today returned a small sculpture taken from the 2,500-year-old Parthenon – a gesture the government said would bolster efforts to regain the Elgin Marbles from the British Museum.

A powerful earthquake shook Greece yesterday and was felt across many parts of the Mediterranean, but caused only slight damage and three minor injuries, authorities said.

The Greek government appealed for calm today, fearing a public backlash against immigrants following the bungled bus hijacking by two Albanian gunmen.

Athens ordered a major boost in military involvement in security for the Olympic Games today, as the Greek public order minister denied reports of problems with its massive surveillance system.