Blasts in Greece

ATHENS: A parcel bomb burst into flames at the Swiss embassy in Athens on Tuesday and controlled explosions were carried out on packages at the Russian and Bulgarian embassies, Greek police said, a day after intercepting several similar packages.

Police said a total of five parcel bombs had been discovered in the capital on Tuesday, just days before local elections, following similar packages addressed to three other embassies and President Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday.

An employee at the Swiss embassy narrowly escaped injury when a suspect parcel ignited early on Tuesday. Switzerland said the device had been left at the entrance to the embassy and burst into flames when it was being checked by staff.

Police arrested two men suspected of links to a far-left group on Monday after the discovery of several booby-trapped packages. — AFP