Snow blankets Athens, Greek islands and Turkey’s Istanbul

By ELENA BECATOROS and NICHOLAS PAPHITIS
Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A severe snowstorm has disrupted air and road traffic in the Greek capital of Athens and in neighboring Turkey’s largest city of Istanbul. It also has blanketed most of Greece and Turkey, including several Aegean islands. The Greek government declared a holiday for Tuesday in the greater Athens area, central Greece and the islands, and urged people to stay home. Key branches of the civil service as well as food stores, gas stations and pharmacies will stay open. The snowstorm snarled traffic and disrupted flights Monday in both Athens and Istanbul, a metropolis of 16 million people. Snowfall is expected to continue Tuesday.