Minister under fire over leaked call with convict

Greece's left-led government has come under fire from the opposition in the wake of reports and leaked audio of an alleged telephone conversation between Defense Minister Panos Kammenos and Makis Yiannousakis, a former shipowner who is currently serving life in prison in connection with the Noor 1 heroin smuggling case.

In the conversation, Kammenos, who is also leader of right-wing coalition partner Independent Greeks, allegedly asked Yiannousakis to testify against a particular businessman in exchange for support from the government so that he would receive preferential treatment.

Kammenos reacted to the reports saying that Yiannousakis had - through the mediation of journalist Makis Triantafyllopoulos - asked for judicial protection in order to give evidence in connection with the case.

"As it was my duty to do, I immediately informed the prosecutor...

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