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November 17 terrorists vow to return

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Thursday, August 1, 2002

ATHENS Ñ Greece's November 17 has vowed to renew insurgency attacks against Western targets.

In the first statement by the group since the recent wave of arrests by Greek authorities, November 17 said it has prepared new insurgents to replace those captured. The group, in a statement published in the Athens-based Eleftherotypia daily on Wednesday, said the government has failed to arrest the leadership of November 17.

"We are still alive," the group said. "We learned from our mistakes and, fortunately, from the mistakes of the Greek police and we will go forward."

November 17 has been linked to the deaths of 23 people, Middle East Newsline reported. They include former CIA Athens station chief Richard Welch and three other U.S. officials, two Turkish diplomats and a British defense attache.

The group warned that it would take a hostage for every one of its members held in custody unless they obtained a fair trial.

Officials said they believe the November 17 statement is genuine. They said the statement contained details of a police investigation not released to the public.

The November 17 communique acknowledged that key members of the group have been arrested. But the group said it is capable of continuingm attacks. It did not elaborate.

Greek authorities have arrested 14 out of an estimated 23 members of the group. Officials said they believe five November 17 members are still at large.

Officials said their investigation of computer disks found at November 17 safe houses indicate that the insurgency group had planned a series of strikes in the northern port city of Thessaloniki between 1990 and 1993.

They said the targets included the U.S. consulate in the city. The attacks were never carried out.

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