End of Day Report

24 August 2004

Scheduled Protests

On the Greek-language website of Athens Indymedia the following was
announced. Note: no statement was made on the English-side:

On 27 August 2004 at 7:00pm in front of the US embassy a rally sponsored
by the "Coalition for Stopping the War" is scheduled against the
"Murderous Powell's Visit to Athens." The posting calls "Everyone to the
streets."

Another posting for 27 August announces a camping-style meeting
sponsored by "Network for Political and Social Rights" in Volos at
8:30pm to discuss issues dealing with politics and social rights.

*\*OSAC will provide more information as it becomes available.*

Greek Newspaper Reporting

Translated FBIS from Greek to English:

Athens Traffic Problems Seen Growing in 2nd Olympic Week; Anti-War Rally
Planned

The communications experts express three fears concerning the second
week of hosting the Olympic Games.   The mass return of the Athens
residents, the expected disappointment of using public transport means,
and the drop in the initial enthusiasm about the Games constitute
problems that are a priority for the communications experts and the
traffic police.\
\
\"The residents of the Greater Athens area are returning, and with them
thousands of cars are returning to the streets,\" as was pointed out at
the Traffic Control Operations Center.   This week, the number of cars
to be circulating on Kifisou, Poseidhonos, Varis-Koropiou, Kifisias,
Vasilissis Sofias, Vasileos Konstandinou, Ardhittou, Kallirois,
Vourvakhi, Singrou, and Marathonos \[major road arteries in Attica\] is
expected to increase gradually by 10 to 30 percent (as compared to last
week) by next Sunday.   The traffic police has already added 100 men to
its manpower.\
\
**Rally**\
\
The anti-war rally of this coming Friday \[27 August\] on the pretext of
Powell\'s visit \-- which is expected to close off the entire center \--
and Sunday constitute the two nightmares for the communications
experts.   \"Sunday is the day when the Men\'s Marathon will be held,
which means that Marathonos, Mesoyion, Vassilisis Sofias, and Vasileos
Konstandinos will be closed.\
\
\"The Closing Ceremony is scheduled to be held on the same day, at the
Olympic Stadium, and there will be similar measures in place to those
implemented for the Opening Ceremony \-- no traffic on Kifisias and on
Kimis as of early afternoon and so forth.   However, as of early Sunday
afternoon, it is expected that the residents\' return from the summer
vacations will peak,\" explains an officer in the traffic police.\
\
The second major fear concerns the spectators\' disappointment with the
public transport system.   Already, since yesterday, at the Olympic
venues near the coastal road, constant announcements were being made,
recommending to the thousands of visitors that they should use the buses
\"instead of the tram, which is slow.\"   This week, the Athens Public
Transport Company is strengthening the Olympic lines with even more
buses so that their routes will be served every two minutes.\
\
**Small Buses**\
\
However, reinforcing the Olympic transport system weakens the lines that
serve the city\'s workers and residents.   There are now many bus routes
that are served by old buses or small ones.   \"For example, line 550
runs from the Falirou Delta to Kifisia.   There have always been
articulated buses on this route, precisely because it serves 12
different areas.   During the Olympic Games, the buses are single, with
the result that the bus will be full after the first few stops,\" point
out the communications experts.   \"If even half of the passengers take
their car the next day, then the wager is lost.\"\
\
The third fear is connected to the decline in the initial enthusiasm
about the Games.   \"We are already in the fourth week of restrictive
measures being implemented for drivers.   It is reasonable that there
should be the fear that the drivers might start reacting spasmodically
against the constant restrictions.   Besides, this is the first time
that exceptional measures have been implemented in Athens for such a
long period,\" those responsible point out.\
\
Copyright 2004 Athens Ta Nea.

**Elsewhere in Europe...**

##### Concern rises over theft of passports

-   Despite heightened terror alerts around the world, people traveling
    on stolen passports continue to slip across international borders
    because few countries check to see if incoming passports are among
    those known to be missing, says Interpol, the international police
    organization based here.

-   <http://www.iht.com/bin/print.php?file=535412.html>

####### United Kingdom

####### Probe After Journalist Smuggles Fake Bomb on Plane

-   Transport officials launched an urgent investigation after an
    undercover reporter smuggled fake bomb-making equipment on board a
    holiday jet at a central England airport.

-   http://www.ds-osac.org/view.cfm?KEY=7E435746405D&type=2B170C1E0A3A0F162820