Illegal Immigrants Become Hot Election Topic in Greece

Anti-racism groups have begun protests over impending plans by the Grecian government to move thousands of illegal immigrants into holding centers to get them off the streets ahead of elections. Police have already started sweeping them up in raids in Athens. New civil protection minister Michalis Chrisochoidis, re- appointed last month, says the sudden initiative is not politically motivated but an effort to implement an immigration policy that has been sitting on the back burner due to the economic crisis.