Finance ministry denies 'Bild' report, announces slander suit against paper

The announcement noted that "Bild" had reproduced claims earlier carried by the Greek newspaper "Thessaloniki" - though the Greek paper had not actually identified Mardas by name - and called the affair a "plot" that had been shown to have no basis.

"This newspaper is known for its hostile attitude toward the government and the country. A suit for slanderous defamation is being prepared against it," the announcement said.

The ministry pointed out that Mardas had categorically denied the press reports, saying that neither he nor his wife had transferred any capital abroad since he became minister. Among other proof, Mardas had also sent the prime minister's office a written confirmation from Eurobank that no money had been sent abroad during the period named and that no transfer of 80,000 euros had occurred at any time in the past, while there had been no mutual funds purchased from Luxembourg for that amount.

The bank's letter would be sent to all MPs, the announcement added, while it again demanded that the "Thessaloniki-Macedonia" publishing group produce evidence of the claims it had made, warning that otherwise it would also face legal action.

"This will not happen if its management categorically states, with a reference on the front page, that the article in question does not concern Alternate Finance Minister Dimitris Mardas," the ministry concluded.