British soldiers 'attacked tourists'

Four soldiers will appear in court in Cyprus today charged with beating up three British tourists.

The attack came only a month after officers lifted a ban on soldiers visiting the resort of Ayia Napa, which was imposed after the murder of a Danish tour guide by three soldiers.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said last night that the Commander- in-Chief in Cyprus, Air Vice Marshal Peter Millar, viewed the incident with "considerable concern" and was doing everything possible to co-operate with Cypriot police.

"I can confirm the men have been charged with assault occasioning Grievous Bodily Harm and they are under close arrest," he said.

The incident happened outside a nightclub in the early hours of Saturday morning when the soldiers, from the First Battalion The King's Regiment, set upon the tourists.