Athens  - After years of failed privatization attempts, the Greek government sealed a deal Friday with the country's largest buyout firm, Marfin Investment Group, for the sale of debt-ridden carrier Olympic Airlines, media reports said.

The deal involving Marfin and Swissport, a subsidiary of Spain's Ferrovial, comes a month after the conservative government made a last-minute appeal for investors to rescue Olympic, after an international tender failed to produce satisfactory offers.

Athens/Nicosia - Greek Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias said Friday that the key to finding a solution to reunify the divided Mediterranean island lies with Turkey.

Rival Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders launched new round of UN- led direct negotiations in September 2008 following a four-year stalemate.

"Our aim is to solve the Cyprus problem, but we have said many times that the key for a solution is Turkey," Christofias told reporters, adding Turkey "must move from its intolerant position."

Athens - A businessman was seriously injured in a car bomb blast in Athens Friday.

Athens - US firm Chrysler Aviation made a bid of 210 million euros (263 million dollars) for ailing Greek state airline Olympic on Wednesday, in a surprise response to the government's last-ditch effort to rescue the debt-ridden carrier.

Greece's conservative government is currently in negotiations with Marfin Investment Group and Swissport over the sale of Olympic Airlines and reports said the deal is expected to be finalized this week after years of failed privatization attempts.

Athens - Tourists trying visit the Acropolis, Greece's premier cultural site, were again turned away on Tuesday as guards continued a week-long strike.

Culture ministry employees launched the strike on February 26, blocking access to the 2,500-year-old site, demanding better working conditions for personnel, of whom nearly 70 per cent are temporary contract workers.

The full affect of the strike had not been felt until Tuesday, as Greece had also been on a three-day public holiday to mark the start of Lent.

Patras, Greece  - At least four people were injured in clashes between Greek police and migrants in the port town Patras, a known hub for illegal immigrants, news reports said Tuesday.

The fighting erupted when an Afghan migrant was injured when he tried to jump on a moving truck Monday night in an attempt to hide on the vehicle in order to get access to a ferry leaving for Italy the next day, Greek public radio said.