Gunman sees red after restaurant shootout

An Albanian man was hospitalized in critical condition with a head wound, while at least another was injured during a central Athens restaurant shootout before dawn yesterday. Police said an Albanian entered the restaurant on the corner of Syngrou Ave and Petmeza St and started arguing with another two Albanian men who were eating at a table. The former quickly pulled a gun and started shooting, whereupon the two diners responded in kind. One of the two was shot in the head, while the assailant, who suffered leg and arm wounds, ran away and commandeered a taxi at gunpoint on Syngrou Avenue. Seeing a police car stopped at the next set of traffic lights, the cabbie ran a red light to catch the attention of the officers, who promptly ordered him to stop. The gunman, whose name was not revealed, was arrested on the spot.