Islam Times - Greek far-right Golden Dawn holds rally in Athens

Islam Times - Members of the Greek far-right party Golden Dawn rallied in Athens on Saturday to commemorate the anniversary of the Imia crisis that resulted to the death of three Greek soldiers in 1996.

Golden Dawn members rallied outside the party's headquarters where the party leader Nikolaos Michaloliakos delivered a speech.

Michaloliakos said that they "honor the memory of three young men" adding that "coincidentally this day falls near a great date in history, February 4, 1843, when Theodoros Kolokotronis, the father of the nation died."

In 1996, a territorial conflict between Greece and Turkey over the small islands of Imia/Kardak, as referred to by Athens or Ankara respectively, reached new heights. Both countries sent troops and prepared for an imminent armed confrontation. A military conflict was avoided after both nations withdrew their troops following diplomatic pressure by the United States.

However, three Greek soldiers were killed during the crisis when a Greek Army helicopter crashed on the island during a reconnaissance mission. Golden Dawn has marked the dispute since, with violent clashes breaking out between members and Anita protesters during a commemoration march in 2008.