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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 01-05-28Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
[01] HEADLINESLeft wing Akel has emerged the winner of yesterday's elections, slightly pulling ahead of rivals Disy,Delays in releasing final election results in the Nicosia District are owed to huge numbers of votes that had to be counted, An exhuberant Akel chief Dimitris Christofias is not ruling out the possibility of his party contesting the House leadership, While Disy leader Nicos Anastasiades said the battle waged at the polls has proven his party's key role in the political arena. [02] AKELLeft-wing Akel edged out rivals Disy for the most votes in yesterday's elections, while all eight parties which contested the elections will be represented in the new House.According to the latest results, the difference between Akel and Disy stands at just half a percentage point. Akel is projected to secure 20 seats, taking one more seat than in the previous elections. Disy takes 19 seats, one less than its 1996 showing. Centre-right party Diko takes 9 seats and socialists Kisos 4, both parties losing a seat each. New Horizons, the United Democrats, Adik and the Greens take one seat each, while all six independent candidates garnered a combined 0.22% of the vote. With around 94% of the votes counted the results are as follows: Akel with 34.60%, a 1.53% increase over the 1996 elections, Disy with 34.11%, down by 0.6% Diko, 14.9%, down 1,57% Kisos, 6,5%, also down 1.59% New Horizons at 2,96%, an increase of almost 1.3%, United Democrast down to 2.54 %, a drop of almost 2.5% Adik 2.19% and the Greens taking 1,95%, a jump of almost a full percentage point. [03] CandidatesAccording to the latest results, the following candidates have been elected in the Nicosia District:From Akel: Nicos Katsourides, Andros Kyprianou, Yiorgos Lillikas, Takis Hadjigeorgiou, Eleni Mavrou, Aristophanes Georgiou, and Kyriakos Tyrimos. From Disy: Prodromos Prodromou, Dimitris Syllouris, Panayiotis Dimitriou, Nicos Tornaritis, Ionas Nikolaou, Andreas Papapolyviou, and Maria Kyriakou From Diko: Tassos Papadopoulos, Markos Kyprianou, Antigoni Pericleous Papadopoulou and possiby Andreas Angelides From the New Horizons: Christos Clerides. As for the other parties, the picture still remains cloudy as to who will take a seat in the House. [04] delayNicosia chief returning officer Argyris Papanastasiou attributed the delay in releasing final election results for Nicosia district to the heavy workload of sorting counting the large number ballots.He added that extra staff have been assigned to the task to double-check the results. Mr. Papanastasiou said his main priority is that the job is done as thoroughly as possible so that the results are not disputed. He dismissed rumours that the delay was owed to the fact that some ballots were lost, insisting that the process was going ahead smoothly, but slowly. [05] christofias1Akel chief Dimitris Christofias is not ruling out the possibility of his party contesting the leadership of the house.Speaking to reporters after his declaration as MP for Kyrenia district, Mr. Christofias said the matter will become clearer after the party leadership meets later this week. He denied he had spoken with Diko President Tassos Papadopoulos regarding the issue. He revealed, however, that he talked to Disy leader Nicos Anastasiades who congradulated him for Akel's success in the elections. Mr. Christofias added that he and his chief political rival came to a mutual understanding of working within a spirit of reason. In his address to supporters, Mr. Christofias reassured native Kyrenians that he would do his utmost to bring justice to their cause. [06] anastasiadesDisy President Nicos Anastasiades said the battle waged at the polls has proven that his party's role in the political arena is, and will remain key.He added that the message disenchanted Disy supporters sent with their vote has been received loud and clear and that the party turns over a new leaf as of today. Mr. Anastasiades added that Disy will not deviate from its Europe-driven platform in the slightest. [07] papadopoulosDiko President Tassos Papadopoulos said his party has a lock on the role of powerbroker in the new House, just as he had predicted.Mr. Papadopoulos said the two strategic goals set by the party have been achieved. First, that the party close ranks and shore up its traditional support, and second, to achieve the role of powerbroker between the two main parties. The Diko president said the parliamentary elections are directly linked with the presidential contest, but should not be seen as to prejudge the outcome that election. [08] lyssaridesKisos leader Vassos Lyssarides said his party received the message from the election results which will be pored over by the party leadership.He added that the new day will find Kisos ready to meet the new challenges set by the election results, adding that individuals will think again and throw their support behind the party, even belatedly. Mr. Lyssarides said polarisation has been maintained as both key parties have maintained their percentages. [09] de sotoThe UN Secretary General's special adviser, Alvaro De Soto said in an interview with Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris that Kofi Annan is planning to kickstart Cyprus talks in the next few months.Mr. De Soto called on both sides not to lose this opportunity for real progress in solving the Cyprus issue. Commenting on Mr. De Soto's remarks, Rauf Denktash described the UN Secretary General's intentions as a surprise, but untimely. He added that what the Turkish Cypriots wanted from Mr. De Soto is to courageously declare that the Cyprus issue will not be solved if all involved parties do not re-assess the situation. [10] avrupaReaction to the bomb blast outside the offices of dissident Turkish Cypriot newspaper Avrupa continues to pour in as the International Press Institute called on Rauf Denktash to investigate the incident and lead the culprits to justice.Meanwhile, the blast was also condemned by Turkish Modern Journalists Association which called on the occupation regime to act in a proper manner so that the attack will not be neatly brushed under the carpet as another unsolved incident. [11] skopjeTurning to international news, forces from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia kept up their bombardment of ethnic Albanian rebel positions today ahead of a visit by the EU's top diplomat intended to save a national unity government from falling apart.EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana was expected in the capital Skopje in the early afternoon for top-level political talks as part of an international effort to snuff out a conflict which could ignite a bigger Balkan war. An army spokesman said the security forces would continue their operation to drive guerrillas out of the area of around a dozen red-roofed villages under the control of the rebels. While FYROM authorities were able to claim some success late last week after capturing two villages from the rebels, the guerrillas appear to have struck back by taking control of most if not all of a key village. The Defence Ministry said talks were continuing on how to get thousands of civilians, most believed to be concentrated in the village of Lipkovo, out of the conflict zone. [12] weatherThis afternoon will be fine with cloudy periods producing some isolated showers in the mountains.Winds will be southwesterly to westerly moderate, 4 to 5 beaufort and with moderate seas. Tonight will be fine, with light, northwesterly winds, 2 to 3 beaufort with slight seas. The temperature will drop to 19 degrees inland and the coasts and 17 in the highest mountains. The fire hazard is great in all forest areas. Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |