Supporters of five imprisoned anti-globalisation protesters who have been on hunger strike in Greece for up to two months kept vigil today in what they say has become a death watch.
The five - two Spaniards, a Syrian, a Briton and a Greek - are refusing to eat as a protest against their imprisonment since being arrested during riots at a European Union summit in Greece in June. They are awaiting trial on charges of possession of explosives and weapons.
"Doctors last week gave us a time limit until the end of this week," Mr Charis Ladis, the lawyer for the two Spaniards, Mr Fernando Perez and Mr Carlos Martinez, said outside the guarded hospital where the two were being treated today.
"Theoretically they [all five] could die any minute, or they have a week to live."
Syrian Mr Suleiman Dakduk has been on hunger strike the longest, 63 days. Briton Mr Simon Chapman, the Spaniards and the only Greek defendant, Mr Spyros Tsitsas, started their fast in early October.
The Syrian, Briton and Greek are back in prison after receiving hospital treatment, but doctors have urged authorities to transfer them back to hospital. All five have been hospitalised several times.
Supporters of Mr Chapman claim his bag was switched during his arrest for another containing firebombs and hammers to implicate him.
A Greek newspaper last week ran pictures of Mr Chapman's arrest taken by news organisations, which the paper said showed the alleged switch of bags by police.