Greek Olympics chief fired

Sydney set a high standard for Athens to follow

Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis has sacked the man in charge of preparing the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

Culture Minister Theodoros Pangalos was dismissed from his post for criticising the government.

His dismissal comes three days before the International Olympic Committee (IOC) visits to examine progress after repeatedly complaining of delays.

"Mr Theodoros Pangalos ignored self-evident things," said Simitis.

"A minister cannot publicly bicker with the government, use disdainful characterisations for his colleagues, or disagree but not resign."

Manners

Panaglos has a controversial political record having been sacked before by Simitis in early 1999 for his role in harbouring Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan.

He recently told a Sunday newspaper that the government was handling labour and foreign issues wrongly.

He also said that Greeks should improve their manners before the start of the 2004 Games.

"Our streets are full of frowning people. We don't say 'good morning', 'good evening', 'thank you', 'please' - foreigners are surprised at this phenomenon," Pangalos affirmed.

Greece has been under pressure from the IOC for apparently falling behind schedule in preparation for the Olympics, although the committee's president Juan Antonio Samaranch praised Athens on Friday for accelerating progress.

Simitis said he was replacing Pangalos with former culture minister Evangelos Venizelos.