The European Court of Human Rights has ordered Greece to pay €1,000 in damages to a convict who was seriously injured when a bomb exploded in his hands while he was preparing an attack.

Savvas Xiros, a 48-year-old Greek national who was jailed for life in 2003 for membership of the November 17 extremist group, turned to the Strasbourg-based court complaining of "torture or inhuman or degrading treatment".

He also complained of a lack of adequate and suitable medical treatment.

Xiros, who is in Athens' Korydallos prison, still suffers from various consequences of the explosion, including an amputated hand and serious problems affecting his sight, hearing and movements, the court heard.

He said that a refusal in 2006 -- four years after the explosion -- to hospitalise him for eye problems was "inhuman".

The court said prison authorities "had demonstrated their willingness to provide Mr Xiros with treatment carried out by specialist medical personnel in a medical setting.

"However, it held, by four votes to three, that there had been a breach of Article 3 on account of the shortcomings in the treatment provided for his eyesight problems."

Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights stipulates that "No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment".

The Strasbourg-based court therefore held that the Greek state should pay Xiros 1,000 euros (1,270 dollars) for non-pecuniary damage.