Greek politicians may face charges

ATHENS, Greece – A prosecutor heading a yearlong investigation into Greece’s extreme right Golden Dawn party recommended Thursday that its leader, 17 other lawmakers, and dozens of party officials and supporters stand trial on a range of charges, including running a criminal organization and murder.

In a 700-page report, seen by the Associated Press, prosecutor Isidoros Doyiakos describes Golden Dawn as a staunchly hierarchical organization that aimed “to propagate and impose its political beliefs and theories through violence.”

The party, founded in the mid-1980s as a fringe Neo-Nazi group, saw a huge increase in support since the start of Greece’s financial crisis five years ago and won 18 seats in the 300-member parliament in 2012 elections.

Doyiakos wrote that Golden Dawn’s ideology was of “no criminal interest” but argued that it organized assault squads.

Palestinians: Boy shot by Israeli troops

RAMALLAH, West Bank – Palestinian police say a 13-year-old Palestinian boy has been shot dead by Israeli soldiers during a clash in the West Bank.

They say the soldiers opened fire after demonstrators threw stones and at least one Molotov cocktail at three Israeli army jeeps that entered the village of Beit Lykia near Ramallah.

Director Ahmed Betawai of the Ramallah Hospital said the boy was shot three times in the chest and died of his wounds about two hours after the incident.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians have spiked in recent days.

Associated Press