NICOSIA - Hopes of progress towards a united Cyprus have soared with the unexpected defeat of President Tassos Papadopoulos in the first round of the country's presidential elections.
Papadopoulos, 74, a hardliner on Greek Cypriot rights, was regarded as a barrier to new negotiations to end the 34-year-olddivision between the island's Greek and Turkish-speaking communities.
He was beaten narrowly into third place in a cliff-hanger contest which he had been expected to win.
The two leading candidates, a former Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, and the Communist Party leader, Demetris Christofias, will enter a run-off on February 24.
Both men have called for new negotiations to end the separation imposed after a Turkish invasion following a Greek Cypriot coup in 1974.
The contest almost ended in a three-way dead heat. Kasoulides topped the poll with 33.54 per cent, Christofias scored 33.27 per cent and President Papadopoulos 31.77 per cent.
The United Nations put forward a plan to reunite the island before it joined the European Union in 2004.
The proposals were heavily approved by Turkish Cypriots but overwhelmingly rejected in the Greek-speaking south.
Cyprus joined the EU nevertheless but European law applies only to the south of the island.
The north remains under the control of a Turkish Cypriot Government, recognised only by Turkey.
