GREECE: MEMBER OF RULING MILITARY TRIUMVIRATE HOLDS FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE IN ATHENS.

Record ID: 590534

  • Title: GREECE: MEMBER OF RULING MILITARY TRIUMVIRATE HOLDS FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE IN ATHENS.
  • Date: 28th April 1967
  • Summary: VARIOUS SHOTS PAPADOPOLOUS TALKING; REPORTERS AND CAMERAMEN. Initials DHC/VS/BHH/BB Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 13th May 1967 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ATHENS, GREECE
  • Country: Greece
  • Reuters ID: LVA2SW2245VQ4EC0SB0V1MPGF52P
  • Story Text: COLONEL GEORGE PAPADOPOLOUS, A MEMBER OF THE RULING GREEK MILITARY TRIUMVIRATE, YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) MADE THE FIRST PUBLIC STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTRY'S NEW REGIME. HE DISCLOSED THAT MORE THAN 5,000 PEOPLE HAD BEEN ARRESTED IN LAST WEEK'S ARMY COUP.

    THE 48-YEAR-OLD COLONEL IS COMMANDER OF ARTILLERY, AND THOUGHT TO BE THE LEADING SPIRIT BEHIND THE NEW REGIME. HE NOW HOLDS THE POST OF MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE.

    COLONEL PAPADOPOLOUS SAID AN INITIAL LIST OF 25 POLITICALLY SUSPECT FIGURES HAD LATER BEEN EXTENDED TO FORM A SECOND LIST OF SOME 5,000 POSSIBLE TROUBLEMAKERS.

    HE SAID THE PRISONERS WERE ALL BEING WELL TREATED IN CAMPS THROUGHOUT GREECE.

    HE LIKENED THE RESTRICTIONS NOW CLAMPED ON GREECE TO A "DOCTOR WHO FASTENS A PATIENT TO THE OPERATING TABLE IN ORDER TO CURE HIM."
    THE ARMY HAD ACTED TO SAVE GREECE FROM SINKING INTO ANARCHY, COLONEL PAPADOPOLOUS MAINTAINED. HE SAID THE COUNTRY'S FIBRE HAD BEEN WEAKENED BY COMMUNISTS AND LEFT-WING ELEMENTS.

    HIS APPEARANCE FOLLOWED A DECLARATION BY KING CONSTANTINE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT WHICH APPARENTLY SET THE 25-YEAR-OLD MONARCH'S SEAL ON THE REGIME.

    COLONEL PAPADOPOLOUS SAID THE COUP HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE KING.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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