An explosion in the Greek public order ministry has left a man dead after a bomb went off inside the building.

The victim, George Vassilakis, a close aide of Civil Protection Minister Michalis Chryssohoidis.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou condemned the bombing of the ministry, which also house police headquarters as a "terrorist attack."

"I express my pain and indignation to each Greek citizen for this terrorist act," Papandreou said in a statement.

The bomb was hidden in a package made to look like a gift and taken to the seventh floor of the heavily-guarded building. Vassilakis was killed while attempting to open the package.

Minister Chryssohoidis was also in the building when the bomb exploded, but was not harmed by the blast.

A tearful Chryssohoidis told reporters outside the ministry building that he had lost "a dear and beloved colleague."

Left-wing militants have a history of violence in Greece, but so far no one immediately claimed responsibility for the blast.

Author: Matt Zuvela (Reuters/AP/AFP)
Editor: Andreas Illmer