Greek court rejects early release request by N17 convict

A Greek council of appeals court judges on Monday rejected an appeal by convicted November 17 terrorist Savvas Xiros to be granted early release on the grounds of poor health.

Xiros, now 55, was seriously injured when a homemade bomb detonated in his hands in the port of Piraeus in June 2002, leading to the dismantling of the organization.

While acknowledging Xiros's health problems, the Piraeus judges deemed that he should remain in Athens's maximum-security Korydallos Prison and serve 25 years of actual jail time before he can be eligible for release.

Prosecutor Odysseas Tsorbatzoglou had recommended that the request not be granted, noting that Xiros has been handed multiple life terms for his role in the Marxist urban guerrilla organization. The prosecutor's decision was influenced by the fact that Xiros has not expressed regret for his actions and...