Violence in Greece over efforts to preserve ancient heritage of Mykonos

Attack on archaeologist in Athens is thought to be linked to developers' out-of-control' clamour to exploit island

Under cover of darkness in an Athens side street earlier this month, Manolis Psarros, an archaeologist, was attacked as he walked toward his car. It was 8.30pm, later than usual for the state employee to return home from his office in a neo-classical culture ministry building beneath the Acropolis.

There was a general strike the next day and I needed to get through my files on Mykonos," said Psarros, who has oversight of the Cycladic isle. I can remember approaching the car but after that it's a blur," he told the Observer. All I know is that I was struck on the head from behind with such force I lost consciousness."