Greece Frees 3000

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31660, 22 April 1968, Page 11

Greece Frees 3000

(N Z. Press Association—Copyright) ATHENS, April 21. The Greek regime, which seized power in a lightning Army coup, marked its first year in power at the week-end with an amnesty for about 3000 persons convicted or charged with petty offences, United Press International reported.

The amnesty, announced in brief statements published by newspapers, came after several days of indications that the Government was taking harsher action against political opponents. Under the amnesty, those serving up to six months in gaol or awaiting trial on charges carrying up to 12 months sentence will be freed. Informed sources said about a third of those covered by the amnesty were convicted by military tribunals. The Prime Minister Mr Papadoupoulos, said there was still much to be done to complete the purge of Greek public life which was the aim of the Army coup. In a national radio and television speech yesterday, he said the Army moved to save Greece from corrupt politicians and communism. His speech, expected by most people to announce sweeping new measures, turned out to be more an account of the Greek situation before the coup and of measures by the Army-backed Government in the last 12 months. In Rome hundreds of Greeks shouted “go back to Athens” and “long live King Constantine” as the exiled monarch joined them for the traditional midnight Easter ceremony at Rome’s tiny Greek Orthodox church. Cheering crowds burst through police cordons and mobbed the King as he stepped from his car, smiling and shaking hands with those nearby. Holding lighted candles, the King, Queen Anne Marie, the Queen Mother, Queen Frederika, and his sister, Princess Irene, stood by the black-robed Greek Metropolitan as he chanted the ancient liturgy in the street outside the Church, which was too small to hold all present. Eight to nine hundred j persons, also carrying candles 'crowded round.