Cypriots go to the polls

Polls opened today as Greek Cypriots vote for a new parliament.

More than 500,000 voters are eligible to vote in the Greek Cypriot-dominated south of the island for the legislative assembly's 56 seats. The reunification-dominated campaign ended at midnight on Friday.

It is the first election since Greek Cypriots rejected -- and Turkish Cypriots backed -- a UN peace plan in 2004 to reunify the island. Cyprus has been divided into a Greek-Cypriot controlled south and a Turkish occupied north since Turkey's invasion in 1974 in response to an abortive coup by supporters of union with Greece.

The election will also offer a Turkish-Cypriot woman, Neshe Yashin, an unprecedented chance to win a seat. She is running with the centrist United Democrats in Nicosia.

It is the first election since Greek Cypriots rejected -- and Turkish Cypriots backed -- a UN peace plan in 2004 to reunify the island. Cyprus has been divided into a Greek-Cypriot controlled south and a Turkish occupied north since Turkey's invasion in 1974 in response to an abortive coup by supporters of union with Greece.

Polls have suggested the election could see gains for the centre Democratic Party, or DIKO, headed by President Tassos Papadopoulos, who is widely blamed by the international community for the rejection of the peace plan

Extra seats for Papadopoulos could affect the course of any new attempt to resolve the island's division because any boost in DIKO's vote from the 14.8% it won in 2001 will likely be seen as an endorsement of the president's policy.

"I think the policy of the Greek Cypriot side is well known and it is correct," Papadopoulos said shortly after casting his vote at a primary school near his home on the outskirts of Nicosia. "I don't see any reason for any other dramatic change."

For the first time since the island's independence from Britain in 1960, Turkish Cypriots living in the south can vote and stand as candidates in Greek Cypriot elections. A woman, Neshe Yashin, is running with the centrist United Democrats in Nicosia.

Final results are expected around 9pm (7pm Irish time).