Initial results show hard-liner ahead of incumbent in Turkish Cypriot leadership election
By APSunday, April 18, 2010
Hard-liner leads Turkish Cypriot leadership poll
NICOSIA, Cyprus — Initial partial results put a hardline challenger ahead of the leftist incumbent in a key Turkish Cypriot leadership election.
The results posted on the Turkish Cypriot High Electoral Board’s Web site give Dervis Eroglu 48.87 percent of the vote after 20 percent of the ballots counted. Mehmet Ali Talat trails with 43.77 percent.
Seven candidates are running in the election. A candidate needs 50 percent plus 1 vote to win. Otherwise, the top two candidates head to an April 25 runoff.
It’s feared a win by Eroglu — who advocates separate sovereignty for the breakaway Turkish Cypriots — could deadlock peace talks with Greek Cypriots.
Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup by supporters of union with Greece.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Initial partial results put a hardline challenger ahead of the leftist incumbent in a key Turkish Cypriot leadership election.
With 13 percent of the vote counted, Dervis Eroglu leads with 49.51 percent compared to 43.18 for Mehmet Ali Talat, according to partial results posted on the Turkish Cypriot High Electoral Board’s Web site.
It’s feared a win by Eroglu — who advocates separate sovereignty for Turkish Cypriots — could deadlock ongoing reunification talks with Greek Cypriots and possibly jeopardize Turkey’s bid for EU membership.
Cyprus was split into an internationally-recognized Greek Cypriot south and a breakaway Turkish Cypriot north in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup by supporters of union with Greece.
