Plane-spotters face further delay

The group fear they will spend Christmas in prison

Twelve British plane-spotters have been forced to wait until Wednesday before they learn whether they will be freed or have to face a trial.

Three judges investigating spying charges against the group have adjourned their final decision until Wednesday, according to the Britons' lawyer Iannis Zacharias.

But speaking after the adjournment, Mr Zacharias said he guessed the judges may spend Wednesday considering the case further before ruling on Thursday.

I do not want to raise the hopes of people detained

Jack Straw
Foreign Secretary

The group suffered another blow on Monday when the state prosecutor recommended in a 30-page report that they should be tried.

Labour MEP Richard Howitt, who is campaigning for their freedom, said "our hearts are in our mouths until tomorrow."

"All the indications are that there was a fair hearing," he said.

"There was nothing said that gave away in either direction how their minds were moving. It's now just a question of wait and see."

But the judges, meeting in the town of Kalamata where the Britons were arrested, have been advised by the state prosecutor that they - and two Dutch citizens arrested at the same time - should remain in jail.

Government appeals

The Britons reacted to the prosecutor's report with "profound shock".

They and the two Dutch plane-spotters had been waiting since last week for the report to be submitted.

Mr Zacharias said the group could be released by Friday if the judges decided to drop the case.

UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has intensified his appeals to the Greek government for the Britons to be released.

Plane-spotters held

8 Nov: 12 Britons and 2 Dutch arrested on military airfield near Kalamata
Charged with taking pictures in a military zone

15 Nov: Only woman, Lesley Coppin, is separated from the group

4 Dec: UK Government first raises case with Greece

10 Dec: Prosecutor recommends the group should face trial for spying

Mr Straw said: "Nothing would please me more than if they were released in the next few days - but I do not want to raise the hopes of people detained."

While saying he hoped the charges of spying would at least be reduced, he conceded: "It is not possible for ministers to order the judiciary around."

The group was arrested on 8 November at a Greek air show and accused of taking photos and notes.

The 12 British people in custody are Paul Coppin, 45 and Lesley Coppin, 51, of Mildenhall, Suffolk; Peter Norris, 52, of Uxbridge, west London; Antoni Adamiak, 37, of London; Andrew Jenkins, 32, of York; Wayne Groves, 38, of Tamworth; Michael Bussell, 47, of Swanland, near Hull; Michael Keane, 57, of Dartford, Kent; Steven Rush, 38, from Caterham, Surrey; Christopher Wilson, 46, who lives close to Gatwick Airport; Graham Arnold, 38, from Ottershaw, Surrey; and Gary Fagan, 28, from Kegworth, Leicestershire.

The two Dutchmen being held are Patrick Dirksen, 27, from Eindhoven, and Frank Mink, 28, from Den Helder.