NEW YORK — Greece's prime minister says his government is aiming to completely eradicate the extreme-right Golden Dawn party, whose neo-Nazi leaders have been arrested.
Antonis Samaras said Monday the judicial system is now in charge and "will take care of them" and get rid of them.
"There is no room for the neo-Nazis in any part of the democratic world, and there is no tolerance for the neo-Nazis, or for any kind of extremism, undermining democratic institutions," the Greek leader said.
Samaras spoke at a private meeting of the American Jewish Committee, which advocates globally on Jewish issues. Some 100 invited guests loudly applauded his pledge to crack down on Golden Dawn.
Greek police arrested the leader, two lawmakers and party members from the Golden Dawn party on Saturday, and charged one member with being an accomplice to the killing of an anti-fascist rapper, a police official said.
Police said party leader Nikolaos Mihaloliakos, spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris, two other lawmakers and 10 members had been arrested on charges of founding a criminal organization.
Golden Dawn, ranked Greece's third most popular party in opinion polls, is under investigation for the murder of Pavlos Fissas which sparked violent protests and a crackdown on political extremism.
The party has denied any links to the killing and Mihaloliakos has warned the party could pull its 18 lawmakers from parliament if the crackdown does not stop.
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