Dog owners in Athens have accused city authorities of poisoning and burning more than 3,000 stray dogs in a bid to clean up the streets ahead of next year's Olympic Games.
"The dogs have been killed, poisoned, burnt and dumped in garbage bins in various areas of the capital," Marianna Polichroniadou, head of a new citizens' pressure group which includes lawyers, actors and politicians, said today.
City authorities and Athens Olympics organisers (ATHOC), who are eager to deal with the problem of more than 10,000 stray dogs, have rejected the accusations.
In June, officials said dogs would be rounded up, neutered and returned to their neighbourhoods. However, the pressure group claim city authorities and Games organisers have used more sinister methods.
"We categorically deny the allegations. They are unfounded and malicious," a city official said.