Nikos Paraskevopoulos

The trial of Golden Dawn?s leadership and members briefly resumed on Thursday at Korydallos Prison before being adjourned until May 12 amid ongoing objections by local authorities and residents of Korydallos to the choice of venue.

Greek prisons are controlled by criminal rackets rather than prison staff, according to Citizens? Protection Minister Yiannis Panousis.

Fifteen of the 18 inmates injured during deadly clashes at Korydallos Prison on Sunday night were discharged from the hospital on Monday.

The remaining three prisoners are still receiving treatment for head, chest and stomach wounds. Their injuries are not life-threatening, according to doctors.

The US Ambassador to Greece David Pearce has said Washington will view as a ?profoundly unfriendly act? legislation that paves the way for November 17 terrorist Savvas Xeros to be released from prison early.

SYRIZA made good on its pre-election promises on Friday by abolishing maximum security prisons, repealing a law aggravating the committing of a crime while wearing a hood (except in ? robberies) and freeing inmates to home custody when the latter are deemed disabled.

Justice Minister Nikos Paraskevopoulos on Wednesday described as ?unfortunate? and ?excessive? a previous comment in which he suggested that the state was largely responsible for November 17 terrorist Savvas Xeros losing his eyesight.

Prison doors soon open for 1,700-1,950 inmates at Greek jails thanks to a draft bill that will be voted in Parliament this week. The bill, drafted by Justice Minister Nikos Paraskevopoulos, allows for the home surveillance of prisoners using an electronic bracelet.

The aged, disabled or minors will be amongst the groups who can enter the program that facilitates house arrest.

Government officials clashed with opposition MPs in Parliament on Wednesday on a bill aimed at decongesting prisons that includes a provision permitting house arrest for seriously disabled prisoners.

A Parliament committee hearing on Wednesday turned emotional as opposition lawmakers and a relative of a victim of urban terrorists charged that a draft bill by the leftist government is essentially "tailored-made" to release a notorious "November 17" assassin from prison.

A parliamentary committee began debating amid disagreements on Monday a government bill that foresees the scrapping of maximum security jails.