Ex-Greek minister avoids indictment

ATHENS, Greece, May 4 (UPI) -- Greek politician Aristotelis Pavlidis avoided indictment on bribery charges early Tuesday when a vote in Parliament came up short.

Parliament voted 146-144 in favor of indicting Pavlidis on charges in the alleged bribery of a ferryboat line operator, five votes shy of the 151 absolute majority required, the Athens News Agency reported.

Five blank ballots and three "present" votes were cast. Two of the Parliament's 300 members didn't take part in the secret balloting.

Pavlidis, 65, a leader in the New Democracy party and member of Parliament, has served stints as a deputy finance minister and minister for the Ministries of Merchant Shipping and Aegean and Island Policy.

Pavlidis and coastal shipper Fotis Manoussis exchanged allegations concerning the state-subsidized Aegean ferry boat service while Pavlidis was merchant shipping minister before September 2007.