Greek ambassador to Brazil found dead

By Magda Panoutsopoulou

ATHENS

The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday has issued a press release stating that the Brazilian authorities officially announced the identification of the remains of the deceased Greek Ambassador to Brazil, Kyriakos Amiridis, which were found charred in the region of Nova Iguaçu in Rio de Janeiro.

"We express our deepest sorrow at the tragic death of Ambassador Kyriakos Amiridis, a friend of Brazil, who throughout his diplomatic career served Greece conscientiously and responsibly," the press release stated.

The late diplomat served at the Permanent Mission of Greece to the EU, at the General Consulates in Rio de Janeiro and Rotterdam, and at the Greek Embassy in Belgrade during the first phase of the war in Yugoslavia.

Meanwhile, the Brazilian media reported that the 29-year-old policeman Sergio Moreira has confessed that he has killed the Greek ambassador, probably at the behest of the diplomat's wife.

TV Globo of Brazil, citing police sources, said the wife maintained a relationship with the police officer.

Both the policeman and the wife of Amiridis were detained.

The ambassador had been reported missing since Monday.