Vote for hardliner threatens UN plan for united Cyprus

United Nations efforts to end the 29-year division of Cyprus were dealt a blow yesterday as the opposition hardliner Tassos Papadopoulos claimed a victory in the Greek-Cypriot presidential elections.

"The Cyprus people have decided. People have voted for change, given me a mandate. I want to give assurances that this will be a unity government," Mr Papadopoulos said.

Less than two weeks before a UN deadline for agreement on a reunification plan put forward by the secretary general, Kofi Annan, voters spectacularly rejected the incumbent, Glafcos Clerides, in favour of the communist and leftist-backed challenger.

Mr Papadopoulos earned more than half the vote, according to election officials, avoiding an expected run-off with Mr Clerides, who trailed with 39 per cent.

The result could determine whether a united Cyprus signs the European Union accession treaty in April or whether the chasm with Turkish Cypriots on the north of the island widens.

Mr Papadopoulos, a stern critic of parts of the Annan plan, will take over negotiations. The UN blueprint envisages a reunited island joining the EU next year, with broad power-sharing with Turkish Cypriots.

Mr Annan is due in Cyprus tomorrow in an attempt to get approval of his plan from both sides of the UN-patrolled green line that divides the island.

The change of leadership brings an end to a decade of deadlocked talks between the Turkish-Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, and Mr Clerides, 83.

Mr Denktash, who has been widely criticised for stalling talks on the UN proposal since its launch in November, has already ruled out a deal in time for the deadline. "We cannot achieve anything by the 28th," he said on Saturday.

The UN has demanded agreement by 28 February to give Greek and Turkish-Cypriot authorities enough time to stage separate referendums, scheduled for 30 March, on the plan, and the signing of the EU accession treaty on 16 April.

Cyprus has been split in two ­ with the south controlled by Greek Cypriots and the north occupied by Turks ­ since Turkey invaded in 1974 in the wake of an abortive coup by supporters of union with Greece.

A breakaway Turkish-Cypriot state in the north is only recognised by Turkey, which maintains 40,000 troops there.

There are deep divisions on both sides over the Annan plan. In the Turkish-Cypriot north, leaders have criticised it for asking them to surrender territory. Greek Cypriots worry the plan rides roughshod over human rights.

Mr Papadopoulos, the leader of the centrist Democratic Party, Diko, crucially won the backing of the powerful communist party, Akel, in his bid to take office. He attracted broad support by promising to give Greek Cypriots a better deal.

Mr Papadopoulos, a 40-year veteran of Cypriot politics, has softened his stance on the negotiations since emerging as presidential favourite.

Mr Clerides' attempt to win a third spell as president was badly damaged by the candidacy of his aide, Alecos Markides. The Cypriot Attorney General, believed to be one of the main contributors to the Annan plan, split Mr Clerides' conservative support.