GREECE: Greece's new Prime Minister yesterday took personal charge of the ministry responsible for the troubled Athens Olympic Games and chose a veteran diplomat to represent Greek interests in talks to reunite Cyprus.
Political and other analysts said Mr Costas Karamanlis's decision to take on the role of "Mr Olympics" was both a signal he was ready to take hard decisions to speed up preparations and the clearest sign yet that there were serious problems with the Olympics preparations.
In the first major decisions since his conservatives ousted the socialists from power on Sunday, Mr Karamanlis announced a cabinet of New Democracy Party heavyweights and new blood with an average age of nearly 54, six years older than himself.
As well as appointing himself head of the Culture Ministry, which manages and supervises the games, Mr Karamanlis named Mr Petros Molyviatis (75), one of the country's most respected diplomats, as Foreign Minister.
He takes charge of Cyprus peace talks.
Ms Gianna Angelopoulos, Athens games organising committee chief and herself a former New Democracy MP, as well as a close friend of Mr Karamanlis, will report to the Prime Minister in the race to finish many venues, including the main stadium, which are behind schedule.
Ms Angelopoulos complained several times over the past years of rows with socialist ministers in charge of different parts of games preparations who would not line up behind her priorities.
Asked if Mr Karamanlis was now in control of all preparations, the government spokesman who announced the cabinet said: "Yes. He will be in charge. He's in charge over the whole government."