Embassy bombing will not damage Greek-U.S. relationship: Greek FM

Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis and U.S. Ambassador Charles Ries said on Friday that the rocket attack on the American embassy in Athens would not harm the relationship between the two countries.

"Counter-terrorism experts are at the scene. Any other statements at this time would be premature," Bakoyannis told reporters after rushing to the U.S. embassy.

Ries said he had spoken with Foreign Minister Bakoyannis by phone immediately after the incident and had been given the Greek government's assurance of cooperation in finding the perpetrators of the attack.

The rocket attack took place in central Athens early on Friday morning, but no injuries were reported, Greek police said.

The U.S. site became a target in February 1996 when an urban terrorist cell launched a 3.5-inch anti-tank rocket that hit the outer wall of a parking lot behind the embassy.

Source: Xinhua