Greek police question witnesses in US embassy hit

ATHENS, Jan 15 (Reuters) Greek anti-terrorist police today were questioning dozens of witnesses of a grenade attack against the US embassy in Athens, the most daring hit by leftist guerrillas in Greece in years.

Police suspect the Revolutionary Struggle group launched the rocket-propelled grenade on the mission on Friday, raising fears of a resurgence of leftist militant violence.

''The struggle against terrorism requires a serious and responsible stance,'' Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis told reporters in Zagreb. ''In this fight ... we are uncompromising and ruthless.'' Police said more than 50 people testified that they had witnessed the attack while the origin of the rocket, which caused minor damage to the embassy's glass facade but no injuries, is also expected to yield clues.

''We have seven witnesses who say they saw the attackers' faces and we are bringing them in for further questioning,'' a police official said.

Police were also investigating how the rocket launcher used in the attack, a Chinese-made RPG 7, came to Greece, where no such weapons are used by the military.

The tapes of security cameras around the embassy, a common target for Greek leftist demonstrators, were also being checked.

Police said only Revolutionary Struggle would have the expertise to launch such a daring attack on the capital's most well-guarded building, making them the most dangerous guerrilla group in Greece after the dismantling of the deadly November 17 group in 2002, two years before the Athens Olympics.

American specialists have returned to Greece's anti-terrorist squad, which police officials say has been largely dormant since the capture of November 17 members, and are aiding the investigation, police said.

The group has claimed responsibility for the attack in anonymous phone calls to the security firm guarding the embassy.

But police are waiting for its usual statement to be sent to media before they can confirm Revolutionary Struggle was behind the attack.

The group emerged in 2003 with a bomb attack on a court building and has since claimed an assassination attempt against Greece's culture minister in May and a bomb at the Economy Ministry which wounded two people 13 months ago.

It has adopted November 17's anti-US rhetoric in its statements to the media. None of its members have been arrested.

Reuters AB DB2137