Greek terror group denounces crackdown

The elusive Greek terrorist group November 17 today denounced new measures designed to halt more than a quarter century of political assassinations and violence.

The 11-page declaration came a year after its last deadly attack, the murder of British diplomat Brigadier Stephen Saunders in Athens.

No member of November 17 has ever been arrested since its first attack 26 years ago. It has claimed responsibility for 22 killings and other attacks.

The statement, which appeared in the daily newspaper Eleftherotypia, claimed Greece’s new anti-terrorism law "makes a rag out of the constitution."

It claimed the law only seeks to appease the United States and other nations that have pressured Greece to take a tougher stand against terrorism.

"The law doesn’t care so much if those accused are innocent or guilty ... as long as they jail someone from the broader left political spectrum," the statement said.

The new law, passed earlier this month, allows for non-jury trials, use of DNA without suspects’ consent and gives broader powers for surveillance and investigations.

Greece has faced international criticism for its inability to crack November 17 and smaller terrorist cells. The pressure has intensified with the approach of the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

The November 17 statement said it was not responsible for a January bombing that injured conservative parliament member Vasilios Michaloliakos.

It claimed the bomb was planted by "American agents" and other supporters of the anti-terrorism measures as a way to push it through parliament.