| 27 August 2007 |
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| A man looks at blazes burning a mountain next to the village of Theologos in Evia island, 27 Aug 2007 |
New fires broke out Monday on the fringes of Athens, triggering a rush of firefighters and airplanes to the suburb of Papagou, where flames swept through brush.
The blazes have cut a swath of destruction from the southern tip of the Peloponnese peninsula to the far northern town of Ioannina, destroying hundreds of villages and leaving thousands homeless. Firefighters and equipment from a half-dozen European countries are helping Greek fire brigades battle the inferno.
With an estimated half of the country on fire today, a top Greek prosecutor said he will determine whether the presumptive arson attacks fall under the country's anti-terrorism statutes. Authorities say such a move would give investigators broader powers to investigate and make arrests.
Since Saturday, government officials have been saying they suspect arson in at least some of the attacks.
Many local officials have accused rogue land developers of setting fires to clear forests and farmland for new construction.
In southern Greece Sunday, the fires stopped just short of Ancient Olympia - the World Heritage site where the first Olympic games were held. A fire protection system started just in time to save the ancient ruins and other priceless artifacts from incineration.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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