Gunman attempts to kill new Athens mayor

A gunman has opened fire on Greek parliamentary deputy and newly elected Athens mayor, Ms Dora Bakoyanni, wounding her driver…

A gunman has opened fire on Greek parliamentary deputy and newly elected Athens mayor, Ms Dora Bakoyanni, wounding her driver.

Ms Bakoyanni escaped without serious injury, her office said. Police arrested a man at the scene.

Ms Bakoyanni was in her car, about to be driven off, when a man approached and started shooting, her office said.

"She only has some scratches from breaking glass," Mr Theodore Kassimis, a parliamentary deputy said.

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It was unclear whether the incident was related to the November 17 urban guerrilla group, which gunned down her husband, Pavlos, a popular politician, in 1989.

Ms Bakoyanni, who will be in office for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, is the daughter of former conservative prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis.

She was elected as the first female Athens mayor after an election landslide in October. Her term starts in January, when she will give up her seat in the parliament.