Greece to act against ex-king

Greece's Socialist government yesterday made public a draft bill to seize the property of ex-king Constantine for the state and cancel the royal family's passports, saying they were not Greek citizens, Reuter reports from Athens. The Finance Minister, Alexandros Papadopoulos, said the government was honouring a campaign pledge.

Constantine has lived in Britain since fleeing in December 1967, after a failed attempt to overthrow a military junta that seized power earlier that year. He lost the throne in a 1974 referendum, held shortly after civilian rule was restored, which abolished the monarchy.