ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- A gang firebombed two Greek government vehicles Thursday, saying the attack was timed to coincide with a visit by IOC president Jacques Rogge.
Rogge arrived in Athens to attend meetings of the Association of National Olympic Committees and the IOC's governing board. The International Olympic Committee's main liaison for the Aug. 13-29 Games warned there's much work to do before the Olympics _ but he is confident organizers can overcome the delays.
About 6 miles from the city center where Olympics officials meet starting Friday, two environment ministry trucks sustained damage of more than $37,000 after being set ablaze by cooking gas canisters soaked in gasoline, the fire department said.
A group calling itself ``Phevos and Athena'' - the names of the Athens Olympic mascots - told a Greek newspaper it carried out the early morning attack because it opposes the 2004 Games.
``This is a welcome message to the members of the International Olympic Committee,'' a caller told the Athens newspaper.
Self-proclaimed anarchist groups and others have carried out hundreds of arson attacks in recent years, a trend that has worried Greek security officials.
Also Thursday, about 200 property owners whose land was expropriated or otherwise used for Olympic sites, staged a protest rally in central Athens over alleged government delays in making compensation payments.
On Wednesday, riot police fired tear gas during a demonstration by several hundred people protesting construction accidents and security plans for the Olympics.
Although Athens has made up much of the time it lost to delays, a number of construction problems remain.
``Less than six months before the games we can only repeat that there is still a lot to do,'' said Denis Oswald, the IOC coordinator for Athens.
Oswald said ``chaotic'' preparations and a lack of infrastructure were at fault for most of the delays. He added that archaeological finds also slowed down progress at many construction sites.
One key construction problem involves a giant steel-and-glass roof over the main Olympic stadium. It's unclear if there is enough time to secure two large arches spanning the stadium so the rest of the roof can be built.
Costas Cartalis, the Greek general secretary responsible for the Olympics, said the roof will be tested in May and the entire project should be completed in June.
Organizers are also facing problems with another roof to cover the main outdoor swimming pool. Greek officials said the planned design cannot be built and are looking at alternative plans.
