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FEARS OF ARMY COUP AS GREECE HITS MELTDOWN

Police try in vain to bring the riots under control

Friday February 17,2012

By Daily Express reporter

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FEARS of a military coup were mounting last night as Greece grappled with financial meltdown.

The crisis saw shares in London fall yesterday and the euro hit a three-week low as banks, including RBS and Barclays, were threatened with having their credit ratings downgraded.

Former Chancellor Lord Lamont warned that Greece was “the canary in the mine...a warning of dangers to come.” The appearance of several high-ranking army officers sitting next to Greek president Karolos Papoulias at a meeting on Wednesday, when he criticised Germany, fuelled speculation of a military takeover.

Mr Papoulias said ominously: “The politicians should take an example from our soldiers. They always stayed true to the native country.” It would not be the first time Greece has succumbed to military rule. A brutal junta led the country from 1967 to 1974.

Former German general Harald Kujat yesterday expressed his fears of a coup. And after the riots in Athens earlier this week, above, there were calls for tanks to be deployed to protect banks.

The politicians should take an example from our soldiers

Greek president Karolos Papoulias