'Tour firms are covering up rapes'

A British woman raped in Rhodes accused tour firms today of covering up five other rapes on the island this year.

The 28-year-old, who has a three-year-old son with her Greek husband and lives on the island, said she was speaking out to warn holidaymakers and tour reps visiting the island.

Speaking after being quizzed by police in Rhodes, she said she knew of five other rapes over the past 10 days, when tourists flooded the island for the Greek Easter holidays. Two of the assaults involved British female tour operators, she claimed.

"I think that in the other cases the individuals or companies involved do not want their names mentioned or for tourism interests to be upset," she said.

She refused to name the individuals or tour operator companies allegedly involved but said they were British firms and British women.

She added: "There is nothing I can do for myself now, but I can for other women. I can advise them never to walk home alone, never to trust strangers, and to remain strong after any such nightmare for their own sake, for the sake of their children, friends and relatives, and for the sake of authorities so they can help them better in their investigations."

Describing her ordeal last Friday night she told how the rapist stuffed her son's underpants in her mouth to stifle her screams, punched her head, raped her, then roamed the house looking for her child. She escaped by jumping out of a window.

"Arhipolis is such a small and quiet place, the only thing that ever happens is the occasional theft of a goat," she said.

She said the rapist spoke very good English, but with an accent and was "definitely not British".

Police Chief Ilias Halivopoulos, who is heading the investigation, confirmed that no other rape has been reported to authorities this year.

Rhodes Chief Prosecutor George Economou also confirmed that he has not been notified of any other case.