PHILELEFTHEROS: “Civil war over football” The daily led with the scuffles between football club officials and players and police during a Saturday game. The fracas took a political twist, when opposition DISY leader claimed police used excessive force in the stadium. In turn, Justice Minister Doros Theodorou accused Nicos Anastassiades of interfering with police business.
POLITIS: “Watch out for the quake” The paper broke news of a study compiled by the technical chamber ETEK on the potential effects of a major earthquake. According to the report’s findings, the Nicosia area would be the most hard-hit. In addition to probable loss of human life, material damages could reach £3 billion. The findings have led to the setting up of a government committee charged with formulating new standards on shockproof buildings.
MACHI: “The arrogance of power” Another take on the football violence over the weekend, with the paper describing Minister of Justice Theodorou as arrogant and power-abusive. It suggested Theodorou was encouraging police to beat up on fans or football officials at the slightest provocation. Meanwhile one football trainer was released after being arrested during the match; the man’s manhandling by the riot squad was captured on videotape.
HARAVGHI: “Tripwire to peace” In its lead story, the communist party mouthpiece said Turkish occupation forces were placing anti-tank mines to the north of the buffer zone. The paper speculated that in this way the ‘TRNC’ was trying to circumvent the Treaty of Ottawa banning the use of anti-personnel mines. Meanwhile a UN expert is working with the government in drafting an action plan for the removal of mines from around the buffer zone.
ALITHIA: “Straw says Annan plan only way forward” The paper suggested that, at least in public, Foreign Minister George Iacovou “watered down” his position on the Cyprus problem after meeting with his British counterpart Jack Straw. At a joint news conference, the British Foreign Secretary said the Annan plan was the only realistic basis for a settlement. This position is different to the stance held by the Cypriot government, which insists on changes to the UN plan to render it workable.
SIMERINI: ”Theodorou has incriminating videotapes” In a bid to silence critics protesting police brutality, Minister of Justice Doros Theodorou said he had surveillance videotapes implicating several people in the violent incidents at a Sunday football match. But the minister said he would publicize the tape’s contents, because some of the persons shown were political figures.
