Protests At Greek Abbot Held In Scandal

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Several hundred monks, nuns and other protesters have gathered outside a central court building in Athens to protest the arrest of an abbot accused of playing a key role in an alleged land scandal.

The protesters — dressed in black and holding candles — gathered Tuesday as abbot Efraim was driven into the building after making the 600-kilometer (370-mile) journey to Athens from the 1,000-year-old Vatopedi Monastery on Orthodox monastic sanctuary Mount Athos.

A prosecutor ordered that he be taken into custody over allegedly fraudulent deals that involved swapping property with the state. The allegations played a role in the general election defeat of a conservative government in 2009.