Professor held over envoy's murder

The widow of British diplomat Brigadier Stephen Saunders today expressed her relief that the Greek terrorist believed to have masterminded his assassination has been arrested on a hydrofoil in the Aegean.

Within hours of the discovery of the revolver used in the June 2000 murder of the 52-year-old British defence attach?, more than 700 Greek antiterror police are said to have been involved in the arrest on the island of Lipsi.

Heather Saunders today said: "I have been told of the latest developments. I am very, very excited. It is important that finally someone will be convicted for Stephen's murder so that I can put this final chapter behind me and carry on with my life.

"I do not want these people to be shot at dawn. I just want justice for my husband and see these people put away."

British investigators were said to be present today as the man was questioned in Athens. The man, reported to be the possible founding member of Left- wing terror group November 17, is described as a 62-year-old social sciences professor.

A police source said the man was known in his hometown as professor Michalis Economou.