The Supreme Court in Greece has ordered an investigation into bombshell claims that dozens of politicians, journalists and businessmen in the country were targeted by state surveillance at the request of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. 

A justice source confirmed the report by weekly paper Documento will be the subject of a probe, in which the editor of the paper, Kostas Vaxevanis, will testify next week.

The report, published on Saturday, claimed that the list of targets included former premier Antonis Samaras, current members of the cabinet and shipping magnate Vangelis Marinakis, owner of Olympiakos and Nottingham Forest football clubs.

Illegal software known as Predator was used in collaboration with technology employed by Greece's state intelligence agency EYP, the newspaper added.

Influential members of the conservative New Democracy party - potential rivals in any future leadership challenge to Mr Mitsotakis - were among those targeted, of which there were 30 politicians, the newspaper article claimed. 

The government has downplayed the report, stating that it lacks evidence, but has called for an investigation. On Friday, a European Parliament committee investigating wiretaps in Greece and other EU states also called for further investigation into the case.  

Giannis Oikonomou, a spokesman for the Greek Government, claims that 'the evidence is missing', but has joined calls for an investigation into the newspaper's claims.  

He accused the report of trying to 'hurt' the government and undermine stability.