It took six hours to read out charges

Nineteen suspected members of the group are accused of murders, bombings and robberies during a 28-year-long campaign of terror.

It took so long to read the list of charges against them that the chief prosecutor grew too hoarse to continue, and had to hand over to a more junior colleague.

After six hours, the reading was finally completed.

The accusations against me are an Anglo-American fabrication - I am here because the Americans want it so because of my past Alexandros Giotopoulos Alleged November 17 leader

The November 17 group is blamed for 23 murders since 1975, including the 2000 killing of British military attache Stephen Saunders. US and Turkish officials were also among the foreigners killed.

The murder of Brigadier Saunders, a father-of-two from Dorset, is believed to be the group's last.

Suspected November 17 leader Alexandros Giotopoulos pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to all the charges against him.

"The accusations against me are an Anglo-American fabrication," the 59-year-old mathematician told the court. "I am here because the Americans want it so because of my past. I come from a well-known left-wing family."

My confessions were taken under psychological pressure, threat of extradition to the US and under medication Savas Xiros First November 17 suspect

Mr Giotopoulos is accused of being the founder and leader of the group, and of murder, terrorism and bank robbery.

The group's alleged top hitman, Dimitris Koufodinas, said he accepted his organisation's "political responsiblity" but denied all charges against him.

"This is a trial of extreme measures and of special punishment. I deny the charges," he said.

And the man whose injury in an apparent failed bomb attack sparked the chain of November 17 arrests said he had given information only under duress and under medication.

"I consider this court inappropriate and illegal," Savas Xiros said, quoted by the Reuters news agency.

"My confessions were taken under psychological pressure, threat of extradition to the US and under medication."

He refused to enter a plea.

Most of the other suspects denied all the charges against them.

Prosecutors told Tuesday's hearing that some suspects remained at large, including those accused of killing US Navy Captain George Tsantes and his driver in 1983.

Greece's laws mean the suspects cannot be charged with crimes more than 20 years old, such as the 1975 murder of CIA Athens station chief Richard Welch.

Long trial

The trial is the largest in Greece for decades. It is being held in a heavily-protected courtroom in Greece's main maximum security prison, just outside Athens.

It is expected to last for months, with hundreds of witnesses to be called to give evidence.

The 18 men and one woman in the dock are expected to face life sentences if convicted.

Police began making arrests last year after Mr Xiros was injured in a bomb blast.

The breakthough was seen as a major boost to Greece, especially ahead of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

November 17 took its name from the date of a student uprising at Athens Polytechnic against the military dictatorship in 1973.