Last of the Greek coup leaders dies

Former Greek coup leader Stylianos Pattakos, one of three military chiefs who brought down democratic rule in 1967, has died at his home in Athens after a stroke, reports said Saturday.

Pattakos, who would have turned 104 years old next month, seized power along with Nikolaos Makarezos and George Papadopoulos in a coup on April 21, 1967, ushering in seven years of repressive military rule.

"Let history judge our actions," Pattakos once said.

As the juntas interior minister, he famously stripped Melina Mercouri - one of the country's most adored actresses - of her Greek citizenship as she waged an international political campaign against the regime.

Mercouri, who also saw her property confiscated by the junta, retorted: "I was born a Greek and I will die a Greek. Mr. Pattakos was born a fascist and he will die a fascist."

Under the...