Greek far right party blasted on Holocaust comment

ATHENS -The Associated Press

Leader of extreme-right Golden Dawn party Nikolaos Mihaloliakos arrives for a meeting as journalists remain seated to protest. REUTERS Photo

Greece's government has strongly criticized the leader of an extreme right party who claimed that Nazi concentration camps did not use ovens and gas chambers to kill prisoners during the Holocaust.

Government spokesman Pantelis Kapsis on Tuesday described televised remarks made by Golden Dawn party leader Nikos Michaloliakos as an "extreme insult to the memory of millions of Holocaust victims." The spokesman accused the 55-year-old party leader of "distorting history." Michaloliakos and 20 other Golden Dawn candidates were elected to Parliament in May 6 general elections that saw traditionally dominant parties hammered in the crisis-hit country.