Turk Cypriots elect pro-unity President

Turkish Cypriots reiterated their support yesterday for moves to reunite the ethnically divided island, electing pro-settlement leader Mehmet Ali Talat as President to replace outgoing hawk Rauf Denktash.

With more than 90 per cent of ballot boxes counted, official results showed prime minister Talat well clear on 55 per cent compared to 23 per cent for his nearest rival, Dervis Eroglu - enough to clinch outright victory without a second round.

"Today is a turning point," Mr Talat said earlier after casting his vote at a school in the coastal town of Kyrenia. "We have to solve the Cyprus problem. We have to do this with the Greek Cypriot community."

Turkey, the only country to recognise the self-declared Turkish Cypriot state in the north of the island, has a major stake in the outcome as Ankara fears lack of progress on peace moves could hamper its own bid to start European Union entry talks in October.

Mr Denktash, like Mr Eroglu a strong opponent of a UN peace blueprint for the Mediterranean island, is retiring after more than 30 years at the helm of the breakaway enclave.

Nine candidates stood to succeed him, but campaigning was low-key with only Mr Talat's Republican Turkish Party holding rallies - a sharp contrast to the feverish atmosphere 12 months ago for an island-wide referendum on the UN plan.

Mr Talat had said he was confident his support would echo the result of the referendum in the north, where two-thirds of voters said 'yes' to the plan for a united, federal Cyprus.