Dimitris Tzanakopoulos

MATI, Greece (Reuters) - A wildfire killed at least 50 people and injured more than 150 as it swept through a small resort town near Athens, with huge flames trapping families with children as they fled.

Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos on Wednesday accused Turkish authorities of "playing with human lives" after it emerged that two Greek soldiers who have been in a Turkish prison since March without charge could face two years in prison.

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos on Wednesday accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of using the detention of two Greek soldiers in Turkey as a bargaining chip, but added that the lifting of a state of emergency following the botched coup of 2016 may bring a change of attitude in Ankara.

In comments to Real FM on Monday, government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said Athens considered the issue regarding the expulsion of Russian diplomats from Greece to be resolved.

"We took the measures we needed to take and at the moment we consider the matter to be finished," he said.

In comments to Real FM on Monday, government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said Athens considered the issue regarding the expulsion of Russian diplomats from Greece to be resolved.

"We took the measures we needed to take and at the moment we consider the matter to be finished," he said.

Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos sought Friday to downplay the Eurogroup's demand that Greece find ways to offset the 28-million-euro shortfall due to its unilateral decision to suspend value-added tax hikes on the Aegean islands, saying the issue was "of minor significance" and that it concerns a "small-scale fiscal adjustment."

The outlook for bilateral ties between Greece and Russia was unclear on Wednesday amid tensions prompted by Greece's decision to expel two Russian diplomats who are alleged to have sought to intervene in domestic affairs and national security.

Greece will not tolerate any behavior that violates international law, a government spokesman said Wednesday after Kathimerini reported that Athens will expel two Russian diplomats and ban entry to another two, accusing them of intrusion into domestic affairs and illegal acts against national security.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Brussels on Thursday on the sidelines of the NATO summit and is expected, among other matters, to raise the issue of the two Greek soldiers who have been imprisoned in Turkey without charge since early March.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 2.30 p.m. (3.30 p.m. Greek time).

The continued detention of two Greek soldiers by Turkey is one of the key issues that Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will be discussing with Greece's allies at the NATO Summit in Brussels, government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said on Tuesday.