Greek Cypriots again to the polls

nicosia - The Greek Cypriots go to the ballot box on Sunday for the second round of the presidential election. The incumbent president Nicos Anastasiades (71) takes on the leftist candidate Stavros Malas.

In the first election round on 28 January, Anastasiades received 35.51 per cent of the votes and Malas 30.24 per cent.

Cyprus was split by a Turkish invasion in 1974 after a brief Greek-inspired coup. The EU Member State has one of the world's longest-standing peacekeeping forces with Greek Cypriots in the south, and Turkish Cypriots in the north. Peace talks last year broke the role Turkey could play in a re-united Cyprus.

Anastasiades, who represented the Greek Cypriot side in the talks, faced criticism at home because he was either too lenient, or, as Malas suggests, made tactical blunders to solve the impasse. Anastasiades contradicts both allegations.

The fallen candidates from the first round refused to express their support for Anastasiades of Malas. This is unusual for a decisive ballot in Cyprus where the intervening week is usually used to enter into alliances.