Monastery Greek real estate fraud and money laundering

At the request of the Prosecutor of Thessaloniki, police in Greece has been placed under house arrest Efrem, the abbot of the monastery of Vatopedi (Mount Athos), accused of a multimillion-dollar real estate fraud and money laundering, local radio stations reported .

The prosecutor in Thessaloniki, accompanied by police officers and a doctor came on Saturday in the autonomous territory of Mount Athos, on the island of Patmos, to examine the religious and determine if it can be stopped. Al found that his health is delicate, it was decided to keep it guarded house arrest in the convent.

The case broke in 2008, and several members of the conservative government then had to resign for alleged involvement The doctor said Sunday that the health of the religious "slightly improved" , so that "within two or three days may be transferred to jail. "

Efrem is a key figure in a scandal of misappropriation of public lands and money laundering that began in 2008 and in which they are implicated several members of the then Conservative government. Three ministers, including the State Zeódoros Rusópulos, had to resign, although it is doubtful that they are held.

They are also charged 32 others , mostly senior officials, but also a notary, wife of the then Minister of Maritime Affairs, Giorgos Voulgarakis, Greek and several well-known businessmen.

The Vatopedi monastery, built in the tenth century, claimed, from the early 2000, the property of Lake Vistonida and thousands hectares in the surrounding area. Based on alleged documents of the eleventh century, whose veracity has not been proven, the convent demanded that land.

A Greek court ruled in 2005 in favor of the convent in exchange for the land was state property of high value placed on the outskirts of Athens and Thessaloniki, which Efrem could make a profit of millions of dollars in profits.

Efrem's lawyers denounced Sunday "a politically motivated conspiracy "and asked the Supreme Court Prosecutor to cancel the arrest warrant issued by the Office of Appeals of Thessaloniki.

The abbot has close relationships with several Russian officials , including Prime Minister Vladimir Putin . His arrest provoked the indignation of the Russian foundation "Apostle Andreas", controlled by the head of the Russian Government.

The Archbishop of Athens, Ierone, criticized the arrest of the abbot and called it " extremely severe ", especially to have occurred on Christmas Day before Newyear 2012.

US condemns Attack on churches in Nigeria

The White House said Sunday its "sincere condolences" to Nigeria by the attacks of the Islamic sect Boko Haram against Christian churches that left at least 39 people , condemning the "senseless violence" and "tragic" loss of lives in the Christmas day.

We offer our sincere condolences to the people of Nigeria and especially to those who lost relatives and loved ones," White House said in a statement.

After condemning the "senseless violence and the tragic loss of life on Christmas Day," the White House said he has been in contact with Nigerian officials "about what initially appear to be acts of terrorism" to express the commitment to help " to bring those responsible to justice. "

For his part, Secretary General of the UN , Ban Ki-moon , also condemned the attacks and called for an end to all acts of "sectarian violence" in the country, and reiterates its firm belief that no goal can justify recourse to violence. "

Ban "condemns in the strongest terms" the attacks and expresses its condolences to the people of Nigeria, as well as "to the families who lost loved ones, "according to a statement released by a spokesman.

The Government of Nigeria organized a national security summit in early 2012. According to the Nigerian newspaper Vanguard, President Goodluck Jonathan took the decision after meeting with the heads of the security forces and the army in an emergency meeting held yesterday to mark the attacks.

Wave of attacks

At least 39 people were killed Saturday in Nigeria as a result of five attacks of the Islamic sect Boko Haram against Christian churches in which religious services were held Christmas.

The bloodiest occurred in Madalla , a city close to Abuja, the Nigerian capital, as the emergency services at least 35 bodies recovered after the attack on the Catholic church of Santa Teresa.

Northern Nigeria has been plagued this year by attacks attributed to the radical group Boko Haram, whose name means "non-Islamic education is sin" and that struggle for establishment of a state ruled by Sharia law in the area of the country, Muslim majority.

The wave of attacks on Sunday exceeds the deadliest attack to date by the terrorist group that was responsible for one in August against UN headquarters in Abuja, which killed 24 people.