A state legal board approved government plans to deploy thousands of Greek troops to provide security for the Athens Olympics, and NATO also pledged its help on Thursday.
Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said the decision by the State Council clears the way to create a 10,000-member protection and patrol unit that will help police safeguard the Games, from Aug. 13-29.
NATO might provide surveillance planes to boost the massive security plans. Alliance members also are expected to help draw up contingency plans to provide relief for a potential terrorist attack or natural disaster.
"NATO can assist, NATO will assist, NATO is in a position to assist," secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said after talks with Greek Foreign Minister Tassos Giannitsis.
Also Thursday, EU justice and interior ministers meeting in Brussels, Belgium, adopted a handbook to counter terrorist threats at sports events.
The Greek review was deemed necessary because of sensitivities following a 1967 to 1974 military dictatorship.
It will be the first time since then that the armed forces have been called on to play a role in domestic security.
Papantoniou announced in early February that a special Olympic force will be formed to help guard Olympic venues, protect officials and athletes, carry out patrols and provide bomb disposal experts.
The military units will assist about 41,000 police, coast guard officers, firefighters and other personnel. Greece has budgeted more than US$750 million for Olympic security -- more than three times what Australia spent for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Also, 496 new officers joined Athens' municipal police force ahead of the Olympics.
Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyianni said the new officers will help the city meet the challenge of the Games. The municipal police have no arrest powers and are used to issue parking and littering fines, and for regulating street vendors.
The EU handbook sets out practical guidelines for coordination between European police, military and intelligence authorities in case of attack.
Irish Justice Minister Michael McDowell, whose country holds the EU presidency, said the handbook was "designed to prevent terrorist acts at the Games" and other big sporting events such as the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
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