Rifle found near Greek President's home

An assault rifle and bullets were found abandoned near the home of Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos, the authorities said today.

The rifle was discovered yesterday - together with 28 bullets and a flash suppressor - wrapped in a plastic bag.

It was left a block away from the president’s home, in Athens’s northern Pychiko area, police said.

Authorities did not give details of the rifle type but said it had been examined and did not match other weapons used in the past by Greek terrorists.

It was the latest incident involving weapons to concern police since a crackdown was launched against Greece’s November 17 terrorist group six weeks ago.

Police have arrested 15 suspected members of the far-left group following a bungled bomb attack in late June, but fear other members may continue attacks.

November 17 has killed 23 people, including four US military and intelligence officials, since 1975. Its members had evaded capture until a failed bomb attack on June 29 triggered the arrests.

Police have seized what they believe is most of the group’s arsenal in a series of raids but are continuing searches in case the urban guerrillas try to rearm themselves.

A cache of handguns and rifles was discovered stolen from an army facility on August 3. A day later, police found explosives buried near a sports stadium in central Athens.

The army said the weapon discovered yesterday was not stolen from the military facility and is not used by Greece’s armed forces.