ATHENS, Greece -- The third attack on judicial officials in Athens this month prompted Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou to call an emergency Cabinet meeting Tuesday to discuss the wave of terrorism.
Supreme Court Assistant Prosecutor Anastasios Vernardos, 61, was shot and killed near his home in Athens late Monday and an underground group calling itself 'May 1' claimed responsibility in leaflets found at the scene.
Officials said Vernardos handled the extradition to Italy of former Red Brigade suspect Maurico Follini, arrested in Greece in 1986.
There was no immediate word from police on whether the killing was linked to the Follini case or if 'May 1' had contacts with the Italian terrorist group.
Vernados, shot in the chest and stomach at close range as he returned homeabout 9:30 p.m. Monday, was pronounced dead at hospital less than an hour later.
Two other public prosecutors, shot in the hands and legs in earlier attacks this month, are recovering in hospital.
Government spokesman Sotiris Kostopoulos said Papandreou would chair the emergency meeting to discuss the terrorist attacks.
Witnesses said the leaflets found at the scene of Vernados's murder bore a red star emblem similar to that of 'November 17,' another terrorist group that has operated in Greece for more than a decade.
'November 17' claimed responsibility for shooting Supreme Court prosecutor Panayotis Tarasouleas, 66, outside his home Jan. 18.
The previously unknown 'Popular Anti-State Group' took responsibility in a cassette tape recording for a shooting Jan. 10 of prosecutorCostas Androulidakis, 52.
