The Hellenic Navy (HN) (Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, Polemikó Naftikó, abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence. During the periods of monarchy (1833–1924 and 1936–1973) it was known as the Royal Navy (Βασιλικόν Ναυτικόν, Vasilikón Naftikón, abbreviated ΒΝ).The total displacement of all the navy's vessels is approximately 150,000 tons.The motto of the Hellenic Navy is "Μέγα το της Θαλάσσης Κράτος" from Thucydides' account of Pericles' oration on the eve of the Peloponnesian War. This has been roughly translated as "Great is the country that controls the sea". The Hellenic Navy's emblem consists of an anchor in front of a crossed Christian cross and trident, with the cross symbolizing Greek Orthodoxy, and the trident symbolizing Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology. Pericles' words are written across the top of the emblem. "The navy, as it represents a necessary weapon for Greece, should only be created for war and aim to victory."...............The Hellenic Merchant Marine refers to the Merchant Marine of Greece, engaged in commerce and transportation of goods and services universally. It consists of the merchant vessels owned by Greek civilians, flying either the Greek flag or a flag of convenience. Greece is a maritime nation by tradition, as shipping is arguably the oldest form of occupation of the Greeks and a key element of Greek economic activity since the ancient times. Nowadays, Greece has the largest merchant fleet in the world, which is the second largest contributor to the national economy after tourism and forms the backbone of world shipping. The Greek fleet flies a variety of flags, however some Greek shipowners gradually return to Greece following the changes to the legislative framework governing their operations and the improvement of infrastructure.Blogger Tips and Tricks
This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς....This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς.........

Friday, May 28, 2010

Pakistan : Mosque siege, 2,000 hostages..[ 1316 ]

Gunmen take 2,000 worshippers hostage in Pakistan mosque siege

Martin Bentham
28.05.10

More than 2,000 people were being held hostage today after gunmen armed with grenades stormed two mosques in the Pakistani city of Lahore.
At least 20 people were reported to have died during the assault, which took place shortly after Friday prayers.

Dramatic television footage showed one of the gunmen firing an assault rifle and throwing grenades from one of the mosque's minarets. Earlier, witnesses reported seeing four attackers wearing suicide belts and throwing grenades
The militants also opened fire on the worshippers, members of the Ahmadi minority Islamic sect, before starting a gun battle with police.
Police confirmed that some of the gunmen were still holed up inside one mosque in the Model Town district of Lahore.
“Some gunmen have managed to enter the worship place. We have surrounded it. I have no idea of casualties,” said Illyas Saleem, a senior police officer in Model Town.
“I saw some gunmen run towards the Ahmadis' place of worship and then I heard blasts and gunfire,” Mohammad Nawaz, a resident, told the Reuters news agency.
At the other mosque, several miles away in the Garhi Shahu district, witnesses said the attack was continuing with the militants and police engaged in a gunfight.
Ahmadis are a minority Muslim sect which was founded in the late 19th century. They number about four million and have been banned in Pakistan from calling themselves Muslims or engaging in Muslim practices such as reciting Islamic prayers since 1984 when General Zia-ul-Haq made it an offence punishable by up to three years' jail.
The Ahmadis believe that Mohammed was not the final prophet, which contradicts a central tenet of Islamic belief.
The sect has been targeted before by radical Sunnis, although never on such a large scale or co-ordinated fashion.
Many Islamist militants believe it is permissible or honourable to kill non-Muslims, or even those Muslims who do not share their views.
An Ahmadi spokesman said the sect abhors violence and was deeply concerned. “We are a peaceful people and monitoring the situation and hoping and praying that the authorities are able to take all necessary action to bring the situation to normalcy with the least number of casualties,” Waseem Sayed said via email from the US, where he lives.
Lahore, Pakistan's cultural capital and its second biggest city after Karachi, has suffered a series of militant attacks recently. In March, at least 45 people died after two suicide bombers attacked a crowded residential area.
Another 23 people were killed, and hundreds more injured, in May last year when a group of Taliban militants shot at police before detonating a large car bomb. Buildings belonging to Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI, and the police were damaged. The fatalities included at least one child and 12 police officers.
Sri Lanka's cricket team was attacked in the city last year, and eight people were killed in a separate assault on a police compound.
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