PASOK leadership candidate Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday that he would offer current party president George Papandreou a “prominent” role if the Thessaloniki MP wins the contest. Venizelos was speaking in Serres, northern Greece, as part of his tour of the region. The leadership ballot is due to take place on November 11.

A 33-year-old man was arrested in the Kalamaria area of Thessaloniki yesterday on suspicion of strangling and stabbing his mother to death. The 61-year-old woman was found in her home with several stab wounds as well as neck injuries. Police said that the motive for the crime remained unclear.

Police exchanged fire with a driver who failed to stop at a roadside check in Kokkinos Milos, northwestern Athens, on Saturday evening. The man fired at police officers and then sped off. The policemen fired back but were not able to stop the car. The driver abandoned his vehicle and stole a motorcycle to make his getaway. Police have not issued a description of the man.

An earthquake measuring 5 on the Richter scale was recorded near the Ionian island of Zakynthos on Saturday morning. The tremor was also felt in parts of the mainland. No injuries or damage were reported.