Former PM to testify in real-estate probe

Greece (AP):

A Greek parliamentary committee probing a real-estate scandal has summoned former Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis to testify as a witness.

No date was set yesterday for the appearance of the conservative former premier, who governed from 2004 until 2009.

The committee is investigating whether five former conservative ministers should be charged over the land swaps between the state and a wealthy Greek Orthodox monastery.

Investigators have found that the deals were weighed in favor of the 1,000-year-old Vatopedi monastery in northern Greece, and cost taxpayers at least €100 million ($131 million).

The scandal contributed to the governing Socialists' landslide electoral victory over Karamanlis' conservatives in October.