Greece: Supreme court hears appeal for far-left killer

Greece's supreme court on Tuesday examined the rejection of a furlough request by a hunger-striking extremist serving multiple life sentences for the killing of 11 people by Greece's deadliest militant organization.

Dimitris Koufodinas, a hitman for the now defunct November 17 group which killed 23 people from 1975-2000, has been on hunger strike for more than two weeks over the refusal of his request for a leave of absence from prison. He was moved to intensive care in a hospital in the central city of Volos last week.

There has been a barrage of vandal attacks on high-profile targets in support of Koufodinas, 61, who was convicted in 2003 and was moved to a minimum-security agricultural prison last summer. He has received six furloughs since late 2017.

A policeman walks in front of the Parliament building as red paint is seen on the wall in Athens, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. A group of about 10 people threw red paint at parliament and set off a smoke bomb as Greece's Supreme Court heard an appeal against the denial of a temporary leave of absence from prison of a hunger striking extremist serving multiple life sentences for the killings of 11 people by the country's deadliest far-left group. (AP PhotoThanassis Stavrakis)

The latest vandalism occurred in the middle of the day Tuesday, when a group of about 10 people threw red paint at parliament and set off a smoke bomb. Other targets have included the U.S. ambassador's home, banks, shops, political offices and police stations

The Rouvikonas anarchist group claimed responsibility for the parliament attack, as it had done for the paint-throwing against the exterior of the U.S. ambassador's garden wall. Police said one person was arrested in connection with the parliament incident, while authorities launched an investigation into how the paint-throwers gained access to the building's exterior.

Tuesday's hearing, which was to determine whether Koufodinas' request should be re-examined, was held behind closed doors and with a heavy police guard. Supreme court prosecutor Xeni Dimitriou, who had ordered a review of the decision to deny the furlough, has argued even those serving multiple life sentences are entitled to leaves of absence from prison.

Red paint is seen on the wall of the Parliament building during Greek Presidential changing of the guard, at the tomb of the unknown Soldier in Athens, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. A group of about 10 people threw red paint at parliament and set off a smoke bomb as Greece's Supreme Court heard an appeal against the denial of a temporary leave of absence from prison of a hunger striking extremist serving multiple life sentences for the killings of 11 people by the country's deadliest far-left group. (AP PhotoThanassis Stavrakis)

The supreme court panel hearing the case is expected to issue a decision in the coming days. If it rules to accept the appeal against the denial, the case will be sent back to the Volos court which made the initial judgment for review. The supreme court itself does not rule on whether to grant the furlough.

Professing a mixture of Marxism and nationalism, November 17's victims included American, British and Turkish diplomats, Greek politicians, businessmen, police and a Greek student. Koufodinas has claimed "political responsibility" for the group's acts, and is serving 11 life terms.

He has vowed to continue his hunger strike "to the end" unless he is granted a new temporary prison leave. His previous furloughs and his move from the maximum security Korydallos prison near Athens to a minimum-security facility in central Greece were criticized by relatives of November 17 victims and U.S. authorities.

Red paint is seen on the wall of the Parliament building as Greek Presidential Guards, changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown Soldier in Athens, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. A group of about 10 people threw red paint at parliament and set off a smoke bomb as Greece's Supreme Court is hearing an appeal against the denial of a temporary leave of absence from prison of a hunger striking extremist serving multiple life sentences for the killings of 11 people by the country's deadliest far-left group. (AP PhotoThanassis Stavrakis)

A policeman speaks on his cell phone as red paint is seen on the wall of the Parliament building in Athens, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. A group of about 10 people threw red paint at parliament and set off a smoke bomb as Greece's Supreme Court heard an appeal against the denial of a temporary leave of absence from prison of a hunger striking extremist serving multiple life sentences for the killings of 11 people by the country's deadliest far-left group. (AP PhotoThanassis Stavrakis)

Tourists look the red paint on the wall of the Parliament building in Athens, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. A group of about 10 people threw red paint at parliament and set off a smoke bomb as Greece's Supreme Court heard an appeal against the denial of a temporary leave of absence from prison of a hunger striking extremist serving multiple life sentences for the killings of 11 people by the country's deadliest far-left group. (AP PhotoThanassis Stavrakis)

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — A top European Union military officer said that a frigate that’s part of an EU mission in the Red Sea to protect merchant shipping destroyed a drone launched from an area in Yemen controlled by Houthi rebels on Thursday morning.

Austrian Gen. Robert Brieger, who is chair of the EU’s military committee, said that it would be crucial for the bloc to “conserve resources” over the long haul because the threat posed by Houthi attacks “will not disappear” due to its connection to the Israel-Hamas war.

“The task given to the military is simply to protect merchant ships and to show the public that the European Union is not willing to accept a terrorist organization will interrupt the freedom of movement at sea,” Brieger said.

Brieger said that he’s asking EU members to provide the necessary resources to the EU mission dubbed Aspides — Greek for “shields.”

He said that it’s the first time that the EU has launched a naval operation in a hostile environment that's twice the size of the 27-nation bloc, calling it a “litmus test” that the bloc will pass successfully.

The commander of an EU naval mission in the Red Sea, Greek Rear Adm. Vasilios Gryparis, wants to significantly increase its size to better defend against possible attacks by Houthi rebels based in Yemen. Nineteen of the 27 EU nations are involved in the mission, but only four frigates are patrolling an area twice the size of the bloc.

The EU mission was established in February to defend civilian vessels and doesn't take part in any military strikes. The southern part of the Red Sea is deemed a high-risk zone.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels, which control much of Yemen’s north and west, launched a campaign of drone and missile attacks on shipping in the Red Sea in November. They have also fired missiles toward Israel, although those have largely fallen short or been intercepted.

The attacks have hit maritime trade to Egypt and Europe, with only around half the usual number of ships moving through the area. It’s added up to two weeks of transit time for vessels that want to avoid the Suez Canal, hiking transport costs and shipping insurance.

The rebels have described their campaign as an effort to pressure Israel to end the wear. The ships targeted by the Houthis, however, largely have had little or no connection to Israel, the U.S. or other nations involved in the war.

Their campaign has continued despite more than two months of U.S.-led retaliatory airstrikes.

General Robert Brieger, chairman of the EU's Military Committee talks to the media during a press conference after a meeting with the Cyprus national guard chief Georgios Tsitsikostas at the Defense Ministry in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, on Thursday, April 25, 2024. The European Union's top military official says a frigate that's part of an EU military mission in the Red Sea to protect merchant shipping has destroyed a drone launched from an area in Yemen controlled by Houthi rebels. Brieger said the downing of the drone took place Thursday morning. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

General Robert Brieger, chairman of the EU's Military Committee talks to the media during a press conference after a meeting with the Cyprus national guard chief Georgios Tsitsikostas at the Defense Ministry in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, on Thursday, April 25, 2024. The European Union's top military official says a frigate that's part of an EU military mission in the Red Sea to protect merchant shipping has destroyed a drone launched from an area in Yemen controlled by Houthi rebels. Brieger said the downing of the drone took place Thursday morning. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

General Robert Brieger, chairman of the EU's Military Committee talks to the media during a press conference after a meeting with the Cyprus national guard chief Georgios Tsitsikostas at the Defense Ministry in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, on Thursday, April 25, 2024. The European Union's top military official says a frigate that's part of an EU military mission in the Red Sea to protect merchant shipping has destroyed a drone launched from an area in Yemen controlled by Houthi rebels. Brieger said the downing of the drone took place Thursday morning. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

General Robert Brieger, chairman of the EU's Military Committee talks to the media during a press conference after a meeting with the Cyprus national guard chief Georgios Tsitsikostas at the Defense Ministry in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, on Thursday, April 25, 2024. The European Union's top military official says a frigate that's part of an EU military mission in the Red Sea to protect merchant shipping has destroyed a drone launched from an area in Yemen controlled by Houthi rebels. Brieger said the downing of the drone took place Thursday morning. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)