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Participation in yesterday's strike was large - few violent incidents documented in downtown Athens

Participation in yesterday's Unions strike was large, which, according to a general union GSEE announcement reached 90%. The Unions are contemplating striking again on March 16^th, the day an Ecofin Council is set to take place in Brussels.

Large rallies were staged in Athens and Thessaloniki. 16 people were arrested in Athens for clashing with police forces, 9 of which were arrested while 13 officers also reported injuries.

In the meantime, traffic is now happening as usual in Panepistimiou street, which was blocked by former Olympic Airways employees, who have taken over the State Audit office.

Aliens' nationality bill passed by Parliament majority

The bill on immigration was passed by majority and in principle in parliament. A name roll call took place as requested by LAOS party.

Of 259 deputies present, 170 from PASO K and SYRIZA were in favor, 86 from ND and LAOS were against, while three KKE deputies voted present.

Citizens holding protesting the bill closed off the entrance to parliament and hurled insults and objects at those trying to get in. The car of Theodoros Pangalos the cabinet vice president was also attacked.

Pangalos demanded that cittizen protection minister Hrysohoidis instruct police to look into why right wing protesters, as he called them, were allowed outside the parliament entrance. Pangalos also implied LAOS party had responsibilities for the incident.

Samaras to participate in EU conference in Brussels

Main opposition New Democracy party leader Antonis Samaras will hold talks with EU officials in Brussels on Tuesday March 16^th. Samaras will participate in a conference discussing exit strategies from the economic crisis for the EU.

Meanwhile, party spokesman Panos Panagiotopoulos reiterated his party's call to the Prime Minister to take immediate measures in support of low wage and pension earners, as well measures toning economic activity and employment.

Papoulias sworn in for his second term in Presidency

President of the Greek Republic Karolos Papoulias will be sworn for his second term in office today.

The ceremony will take place at 11.30 am in Parliament, in the presence of the Archibishop Ieronymos.

Credit swaps to be investigated while Merkel stresses that credibility should be Greece's priority

Greece's priority should be to regain the trust of financial markets, stated German Chancellor Angela Merkel and added that the first steps taken by the government are a good start.

Meanwhile, Germany, France, Greece and Luxembourg sent a joint letter to Jose Manuel Baroso and Jose Luis Zapatero requesting an immediate investigation into credit default swaps of EU member-states and how they have been used by the markets recently.

Furthermore, a European Central Bank president Jean Claude Triche statement did not rule out the creation of a European Monetary Fund in the near future.

Police investigation continues over shootout in Dafni

Police are looking into all possibilities in connection with the shootout at Dafni, among them connections with terrorist organizations.

The 35 year old, Labros Fountas, that was fell down during the exchange of fire was known to consort with anarchist circles and had been arrested in 1995 at the polytechnic for participation in riots.

The deceased was found to be wearing a double set of gloves and was carrying a Zastava revolver from which two shots had been fired, while a hand grenade was found in his pack and a walkie talkie in his jacket.

The hand grenade was of Russian manufacture, similar to the one that "Revolutionary Sect" terrorists had hurled against the Korydallos police station and "Revolutionary Struggle had used against the Nea Ionia and Exarhia police station. Five nine milimeter shells were found at the scene of the fhootout.

Police are now searching for the second person that got away.

Swedish Parliament recognises Pontiac genocide

The Swedish parliament voted to recognize the genocide of the Pontian Greeks, Armenians, Assyrians, Chaldeans, and Syrians and other non-Muslim minorities by the Ottoman Empire.

The decision passed with 131 in favor and 130 against with 88 abstentions.

The recognition prompted the cancellation of Turkish PM Recep Erdogan's visit to Sweden and the recall back to Ankara of the Turkish ambassador to Stockholm .

Earthquake jolts Southern Peloponese

An earthquake measuring 4,6 degrees on the Richter scale took place a little before 4 am in the sea region of southern Peloponese.

The earthquake was centered 180 kilometers away from Athens.

Former Cyprus president body re-interred in Nicosia

The corpse of former Cyprus president Tassos Papadopoulos was re-interred in Nicosia yesterday.

The body had been stolen last December and was uncovered last Tuesday.

In the meantime, Cyprus police made another arrest on the case of the theft. The judicial authorities of the country are also making efforts to get a testimony from a prisoner on life sentence who appears to have organized the theft.

Papandreou expresses satisfaction over meeting with US President Barack Obama

Prime Minister Giorgos Papandreou expressed his satisfaction over the results of his meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House yesterday, having agreed the joint handling of profiteers and secured the visa waiver for Greek citizens visiting the United States.

Speaking to reporters, Papandreou termed the visa waiver "a vote of confidence" to Greece and noted that the Greek government is determined to respond to its obligations and cooperate closely at international level on the tackling of terrorism.

The prime minister stressed that he briefed the US president on his and other European leaders's initiatives aiming at confronting profiteers and restoring Greece's image in international markets.

Papandreou called on the US to contribute to a common direction with the European countries at the next G20 summit, while clarifying that Greece did not request economic aid from the US.

Greece's initiative for the accession of all the countries of the western Balkans to the European Union by 2014 was also discussed, a development that Papandreou characterised as being stabilising for peace in the wider region and the solving of specific bilateral problems.

As regards relations with Turkey, the premier briefed the US president on the visit to Athens by Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan in the coming months, as well as on the will of the Greek side to revive the procedure on the normalisation of Greek-Turkish relations and the solving of differences, such as the case of the continental shelf adding "we also have support on the part of the US in this effort".

On the question of Cyprus, Papandreou said that he confirmed his support for the efforts of Cyprus President Demetris Christofias for a just solution to the issue and the need for a message to Turkey as well for a decisive will for a solution to this problem, always within European frameworks.