Snowe gets scare while visiting Greece

ATHENS, Greece – U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe had some anxious moments on her first trip to her ancestral homeland when a bomb exploded at the country’s busiest seaport hours before she was scheduled to travel through the port.

A bomber was injured Saturday night when a bomb exploded as he was walking through the port of Piraeus. Another bomb was found, along with a gun once possessed by November 17, Greece’s most-wanted terrorist group. Police also found two hand grenades.

The target of the bombs was unclear, but the incident came at the start of Greece’s tourist season.

Snowe, who consulted with the U.S. embassy, said there was no connection between the 2 a.m. bomb explosions and her visit, but there was speculation to the contrary in the Greek media.

The blast occurred 50 yards from where Snowe and her husband, former Maine Gov. John McKernan, were expected to leave around 10 a.m. by hydrofoil for the Greek island of Hydra, said Dave Lackey, Snowe’s spokesman.

The visit by the first Greek-American woman elected to both the Senate and the House created something of a sensation in Greece, Lackey said.

Snowe, R-Maine, has been the subject of cover stories in several tabloid newspapers, and has also received substantial television coverage.

“It’s been an interesting trip for her to see all of the focus on a Greek-American United States senator,” Lackey said.

Snowe was in Greece to receive an honorary doctorate of law degree from the American College of Greece Saturday. Others receiving honorary degrees were Tom Miller, U.S. ambassador to Greece, and author Nicholas Gage.

Former Sen. George Mitchell, D-Maine, also received an honorary degree in the past. And two Mainers have served on the college board: Harold Pachios of Portland, and Robert Monks of Cape Elizabeth.

While in Greece for the first time, Snowe has been visiting with relatives. Snowe’s father emigrated from the Greek island of Mytilene, and her mother’s family emigrated from Sparta, Lackey said.