Athens, January 12, SPA--The owner of a large Greek shipping company was kidnapped near his home in Athens by armed men Monday, in the third such abduction of a prominent businessman in Greece within six months, according to DPA. Pericles Panagopoulos, the president of Greek ferry operator Superfast Ferries, was abducted by three men carrying Kalashikov assault rifles as he was being driven to work. His driver was reportedly set free. Officials discovered the burned remains of a van and car, believed to belong to the kidnappers, north-east of Athens. Police said they believed the abductors would eventually demand a ransom. Superfast Ferries operates routes between Greece and Italy. A well-known Athens doctor, who was kidnapped last month, remains missing. In June, the chief executive of aluminium company Alumil and chairman of the Federation of Industries in the northern port city of Thessaloniki, George Milonas, was released by kidnappers two weeks after a ransom was paid.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/625229