-Caveat Lector- Greek Bus Passengers Taken Hostage By DEREK GATOPOULOS .c The Associated Press SALONICA, Greece (AP) -- A bus hijacked by an Albanian gunman and carrying at least nine Greek hostages crossed the border into Albania early Saturday, police said. Armed with an Kalashnikov assault rifle and hand a grenade, the 25-year-old man was identified only by his first name, Anton. He received the $160,000 he had demanded from Greek police but refused to release any hostages. A large convoy of police, ambulances and journalists that had trailed the bus for 15 hours in an erratic course across northern Greece was left behind at the frontier. Five police officers were given permission to follow the bus into Albania but were expected to return immediately. The gunman, a migrant worker, had earlier appeared on television looking weary. In incoherent and slurred speech, he claimed he had been mistreated by police and had been wrongly convicted of theft and weapons possession. ``I'm not doing this for money. I'm doing this because of what they've done to me,'' he said. ``What I've asked for is very little.'' The gunman, seen smoking continuously and clutching a grenade, had repeatedly asked to speak with Greek Premier Costas Simitis. Passengers who spoke on television by mobile phone said they were in good condition. Top Greek government officials contacted their colleagues in Albania to coordinate the police operations, state television said. ``The safety of the hostages is of the utmost importance,'' said Public Order Minister Michalis Chrisohoidis. The gunman commandeered the bus in the village of Scholari, 18 miles east of the northern port city of Salonica on Friday morning. Five women were released soon afterward. For more than ten hours, he held an armed grenade before he was persuaded to throw it out the bus and into an empty field. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
