Greek 'terror chief' denies murders

Greek police yesterday charged Alexandros Giotopoulos, the suspected leader of the November 17 guerrilla group, with the murder of five businessmen and politicians.

Lefteris Economou, a police spokesman, said: "Giotopoulos denied the charges but evidence from the initial questioning shows his participation in the November 17 guerrilla group and what is more in a leading-guiding role."

The evidence includes documents in Mr Giotopoulos's handwriting referring to murders committed by the group and his fingerprints at November 17 safehouses filled with rockets and remote-controlled bombs.

Mr Giotopoulos, 58, who says he was once a maths professor, has denied being either a member or a leader of November 17. Police are questioning his French wife.

Two other men, Vissilis Tzortzatos, 47, an electrician, and Theologos Psaradelis, 59, a retired printer, were also charged.

Mr Tzortzatos confessed to taking part in the killing of five people, including the Greek MP Pavlos Bakoyannis in September 1989 and the businessmen Dimitris Angelopoulos in April 1986 and Alexandros Athanasiadis.

He has also admitted dozens of rocket and bomb attacks, according to police.

Mr Psaradelis has confessed to taking part in one bank robbery.