A three-member panel of Greek judges ordered 14 British and Dutch plane spotters freed on bail today and said they should stand trial on lesser charges than spying, their lawyer said.
The 14 have been in custody for more than a month and are at the centre of an embarrassing diplomatic standoff between Britain and Greece. The bail was set at 5 million drachmas (£13,130 sterling) each, the lawyer said.
If we can come up with the money we might manage to get them released today, lawyer Mr Yannis Nikiteas told reporters from Kalamata, where the judges ruled.
The group was arrested for allegedly photographing a military airbase near the southern town of Kalamata and had been accused of spying. Mr Nikiteas said the 14 now faced misdemeanour charges of accessing national secrets .
No date was set for the trial.