Athens  - Greek police were questioning in the western port of Patras Wednesday three coast guard officers believed to have been involved in smuggling thousands of illegal migrants to Italy and Western Europe.

Officials who said they had the officers under surveillance for some time were also searching for truck drivers who provided the migrants with forged documents.

The western port of Patras is a major gathering spot for thousands of immigrants from Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East, who attempt to stow away aboard a ferry bound for Italy, believing they have better chances of work.

Athens - A brief strike by air-traffic controllers at Athens International Airport forced the cancellation or rescheduling of 35 flights Wednesday.

The debt-ridden state carrier, Olympic Airlines, said it would cancel 20 mostly domestic flights as a result of the three-hour stoppage, which starts at noon (0900 GMT).

Another 15 flights, including ones to London and Paris, are being rescheduled at Greek private carrier Aegean.

A nationwide strike has also been called by Greece's main public sector union ADEDY, forcing universities, tax offices, public schools, municipal offices and pharmacies to remain closed for the day.

Athens - China and Greece signed a 1-billion dollar port deal Tuesday in a bid to intensify cooperation in maritime shipping which and help gain access for Chinese products in the European Union.

The port deal signed between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis came as thousands of port workers protested through Athens in opposition of the agreement which they say will result in hundreds of layoffs.

The deal will see China's Cosco Pacific Ltd manage two container wharfs at the Greek capital's main port of Pireaus for 35 years.

Athens/Nicosia - Cyprus on Tuesday said it will push ahead with oil and gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean despite the harassment by Turkish warships which threaten to disturb ongoing reunification talks.

"We will defend the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus and we have reported the provocative actions of Ankara to the United Nations and the European Union," said Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias.

Nicosia on Monday said it has launched a complaint with the United Nations after claims that a Turkish warship harassed vessels exploring for oil and gas earlier this month.

Athens  - Several people were injured on Monday evening in a fight that broke out between right-wing extremists, migrants and others during a demonstration in Athens, police said.

The fight occurred during a demonstration against high crime rates by residents in the Agios Panteleimon neighbourhood. Demonstrators attributed the crime rate to an increased community of migrants from non-EU countries.

Right-wing extremists who had mixed in with other demonstrators began to attack immigrants and police were forced to break up the demonstration using tear gas.

Athens - Chinese President Hu Jintao is scheduled to arrive in Athens on Monday for an official three-day visit.

The Chinese president's trip to Greece follows a regional tour of South America, Central America and Cuba where he sealed trade and investment deals with Costa Rica, Cuba and Peru.

China told the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in Lima, Peru over the past weekend that his government wants to help shore up worldwide growth and reform global financial rules.