Greek detainees 'refusing liquid'

Briton Simon Chapman says evidence was planted

Five suspected rioters on hunger strike in Greece to protest their innocence have begun refusing liquids as well as food, campaigners say.

The five have been transferred to Greece's highest-security prison, police have said.

The detention of the five over unrest at the June European Union summit in Thessaloniki has sparked sporadic unrest across the country.

The group includes two Spaniards, one Briton, a Syrian and a Greek.

They are into the second month of a hunger strike, claiming the evidence against them has been fabricated.

A prison official told AFP news agency the men were being held in the prison wing of Athens' top-security Korydallos prison.

The five are demanding to be released on bail until their case is heard.

Greek law allows them to be held for up to 18 months without a verdict.

Rucksack suspicions

Supporters of the British man, Simon Chapman from London, say police planted on him a rucksack containing Molotov cocktails and other weapons.

Television footage of his arrest has appeared to back the claims that he had a different colour rucksack at the time, they claim.

Campaigners allege that some of the five have been physically mistreated and denied access to phone calls and their lawyers.