The Greek parliament voted to investigate the former conservative prime minister, Constantine Mitsotakis, over allegations that he accepted bribes in the sale of a Greek cement firm, Reuter reports from Athens.

The death of Greece's National Economy Minister, George Yennimatas, has left the Prime Minister, Andreas Papandreou, with a tough choice in deciding on the right person to try to turn the shattered economy around, Reuter reports from Athens. Yennimatas, 55, who died of cancer, completed an important tax reform bill to be voted in parliament tomorrow.

ATHENS (Reuter) - Greece and Albania yesterday called a halt to retaliatory diplomatic expulsions until their foreign ministers meet next month, easing a row between the Balkan neighbours.

AN ATTACK on the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal was narrowly averted after terrorist rocket launchers failed to fire because they were waterlogged, Greek police said yesterday.

The Greek government has levied new taxes on the wealthy and declared war on a notorious legion of tax-dodgers, Reuter reports from Athens. The Finance Minister, Alexandros Papadopoulos, painted a picture of fiscal chaos with public debt exceeding 26 trillion drachmas ( pounds 73bn) and revenue growing by 13 per cent in the last three months.

Farmers protesting at insufficient subsidies took action against the government for the fifth day yesterday.

IN EDINBURGH, there is a Democracy Machine on show. Its proper name is a kleroterion. It looks like a tall marble cupboard with vertical rows of slits in the front and a tube down the side. The Kleroterion, dug out of the Agora at Athens, is part of a 'Birth of Democracy' exhibition in the Museum of Scotland.

The Greek parliament voted to investigate the former conservative prime minister, Constantine Mitsotakis, over allegations that he was involved in illegal wiretapping of political rivals from 1988 to 1991, Reuter reports from Athens.

Commuters in the Greek capital faced chaos yesterday as bus drivers stayed at home in protest at the Socialist government's plan to renationalise the city's bus services, Reuter reports from Athens.

The United States rushed two of its diplomats out of Greece after they were mistaken for guerrillas and arrested with guns and wigs in Athens this week, Reuter reports from Athens.

Ioannis Georgakis, diplomat and political scientist: born Piraeus, Greece 22 October 1915; Professor, Pantios School of Political Science 1941-75 (Emeritus), Rector 1963; Governor General, Ionian Islands 1945-51, Dodecanese Islands 1951; Greek Ambassador at large 1975-80; married Mina Papadopoulou (deceased; one daughter); died Athens 1 November 1993.

Miltiades Evert, 54, a tough politician nicknamed the 'Bulldozer', was elected yesterday to lead Greece's New Democracy conservative party after its defeat in last month's general election, Reuter reports from Athens.

Constantine Capsaskis, banker: born Zakynthos, Greece 1923; Managing Director, Ergobank SA 1975-88, Chairman of the Board 1975-93; married 1955 Despina Zervoudachi (one son); died Athens 29 October 1993.

FOR disobeying the orders of the Greek government, the former King Constantine of Greece, who is cruising the Aegean Sea with his wife and five children, found himself under naval escort yesterday while Athens tried to decide whether to ban him from the country altogether.