Greece's socialist opposition leader said the government had mishandled the fighting of fires that tore through Athens suburbs, destroyed thousands of hectares of forest and forced thousands to flee their homes.
Source: The Star Online
- "These fires must put an end to an inefficient state, which winks at lawlessness and illegality," socialist opposition leader George Papandreou said. "This fire was not inevitable, it could have been avoided had the lessons of 2007 been learned."
- Likely to face voters early next year, the conservative government said very strong winds had made it difficult to fight fires in east Attica where swathes of forest and more than 150 homes were destroyed.
- Media also criticised the government's handling of the fires, which have now been contained. "If what we experienced in Attica is the best this government can do, then it is obvious we must urgently replace it," the liberal daily Ethnos said in its main editorial.
- Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis is clinging to a one-seat majority and the socialist opposition, which is ahead in opinion polls, has made clear it will force a snap poll in March when parliament votes for a new president.
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