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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Greece's PM calls snap election | Greece's PM calls snap election |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Greece's PM Costas Karamanlis has called a snap general election, although no date has yet been set. | Greece's PM Costas Karamanlis has called a snap general election, although no date has yet been set. |
| "I am seeking a fresh political mandate," Mr Karamanlis said on TV. | "I am seeking a fresh political mandate," Mr Karamanlis said on TV. |
| There had been speculation that the conservative prime minister would go to the polls early given the wafer-thin majority he has in parliament. | There had been speculation that the conservative prime minister would go to the polls early given the wafer-thin majority he has in parliament. |
| The government has been hit by a number of financial scandals and recent destructive wildfires have also hit its popularity. | The government has been hit by a number of financial scandals and recent destructive wildfires have also hit its popularity. |
| Resignation | Resignation |
| Mr Karamanlis said in his address: "We have to clarify the political landscape and proceed with a series of essential measures to emerge from the downturn. | Mr Karamanlis said in his address: "We have to clarify the political landscape and proceed with a series of essential measures to emerge from the downturn. |
| "The year 2010 will be a difficult and decisive one, and so the Greek people must choose a government that can lead the country out of this crisis," he said. | "The year 2010 will be a difficult and decisive one, and so the Greek people must choose a government that can lead the country out of this crisis," he said. |
| There has been social unrest since police shot a teenager last December | There has been social unrest since police shot a teenager last December |
| Mr Karamanlis will meet President Karolos Papoulias on Thursday after which the date of the election is likely to be announced. It is expected to be 4 October. | |
| The conservative New Democracy party trailed the Socialists by six points in two recent opinion polls and the snap election had been opposed by some conservative MPs. | The conservative New Democracy party trailed the Socialists by six points in two recent opinion polls and the snap election had been opposed by some conservative MPs. |
| The conservatives have 151 seats in the 300-member parliament. | The conservatives have 151 seats in the 300-member parliament. |
| A senior member of the party, Yiannis Manolis, resigned his seat on Monday, saying he was disappointed with the government's performance. | A senior member of the party, Yiannis Manolis, resigned his seat on Monday, saying he was disappointed with the government's performance. |
| His seat would have been taken by another conservative without the need for a new election. | His seat would have been taken by another conservative without the need for a new election. |
| The government has been hit by a series of corruption scandals. | The government has been hit by a series of corruption scandals. |
| Aristotle Pavlides, a former minister, was alleged to have solicited bribes in return for granting shipping contracts, although he denied any wrongdoing. | Aristotle Pavlides, a former minister, was alleged to have solicited bribes in return for granting shipping contracts, although he denied any wrongdoing. |
| Last October two ministers resigned after it emerged that state land was given to a monastery on Mount Athos, in return for much less valuable land. | Last October two ministers resigned after it emerged that state land was given to a monastery on Mount Athos, in return for much less valuable land. |
| Previously, a labour minister quit after employing uninsured immigrants, and his predecessor was forced out amid a bond-trading scandal. | Previously, a labour minister quit after employing uninsured immigrants, and his predecessor was forced out amid a bond-trading scandal. |
| Greece has also been dogged by social unrest since police shot a teenager dead last December. | Greece has also been dogged by social unrest since police shot a teenager dead last December. |
| The death sparked the country's worst riots in decades, leading to clashes between police and protesters in the weeks that followed. | The death sparked the country's worst riots in decades, leading to clashes between police and protesters in the weeks that followed. |
| Shortly before Mr Karamanlis announced the election on Wednesday, a bomb went off outside the Athens stock exchange, slightly injuring a female passer-by and damaging the building. | Shortly before Mr Karamanlis announced the election on Wednesday, a bomb went off outside the Athens stock exchange, slightly injuring a female passer-by and damaging the building. |
| The BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens says the blasts may be the work of the extremist group, Revolutionary Struggle. | The BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens says the blasts may be the work of the extremist group, Revolutionary Struggle. |