Greek Government Withdraws Controversial History Textbook

A history textbook for 11-year-olds that ignited the wrath of clergymen, nationalists and officials on Cyprus was at the center of further controversy yesterday when Greece's newly re-elected government announced it would be withdrawn.

Less than 10 days after their return to power, the conservatives faced withering criticism for dropping a book that had dared to question a version of history that generations of Greeks have grown up with.

In the run-up to the election, critics had denounced the book for playing down the suffering of Greeks at the hands of the Turks.

The textbook's revisionist view of the Greeks' 1821 war of independence against the Ottoman empire, and flight in 1922 from Smyrna, modern-day Izmir in Turkey, was condemned by some as especially unpatriotic, not least by the far-right Popular Orthodox Rally, or LAOS party, which makes its inaugural appearance in parliament this week.

Joining forces with the country's powerful Orthodox church, the party, which won an unprecedented 10 seats in the 300-member house, demanded that the book be withdrawn.

But highlighting the passions that the issue of Greek identity is still prone to arouse, liberal commentators, academics and much of the political opposition rounded on the conservatives for caving in to nationalist pressure.

"Every country has its hang-ups and for us it's the heroes of 1821," said Thanos Veremis, who presides over the National Council for Education, which advises the government on such matters.

"But frankly the decision to withdraw the book is stupid," Professor Veremis told the Guardian. "It does nothing for the image of Greece and nor is it good for the Greeks.

"It is clear that the government has taken this move to guard its right flank when it has LAOS as an opponent."