POLICE ACTION FOLLOWS SETTING UP OF REBEL GOVERNMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 December 1947, Page 5

POLICE ACTION FOLLOWS SETTING UP OF REBEL GOVERNMENT

(N. Z. P. A. —Reuter—Copyright) Received 8.40 p.m. LONDON, Dee. 26 The Associated Press correspondent in Athens says that the police there have announced more than 500 arrests of persons alleged to have been associated in a plot to assassinate a number of notable figures in Greek politics.

The police said that those on the “death list” ineluded Stylianos Gonatas, leader of the National Liberal Party and Minister of Public Works in the last Government. The police gave detailed plans of an alleged terrorist organisation called the Opla, which they said appointed a group to kill Gonatas on December 9 at a point between the library and University buildings in Athens. But a policeman accosted the group on its way there. Members of the group shot the policeman dead. The police

later arrested six Opla members and their confession implicated another 50, ar eventually the rest. The police said they expected violent action in Athens following General Markos’ broadcast announcement of the formation of a rebel Government, in which he accused some comrades of lagging behind the mountain fighters in the “campaign against the Fascists.” The police added the rebel radio had earlier offered a reward for the assassination 6f Gonatas. The police listed several incidents which they said indicated that the Opla was planning groater violence.