SIMERINI: “Discussions over casino”. Commerce Minister George Lillikas met with Green Party representatives to discuss the issue of creating a casino in Cyprus. The Greens party said the matter could not be examined solely from a financial point of view, but must also take into consideration the social consequences a casino would have on the island.
PHILELEFTHEROS: “ DIKO makes 180 degree turn”. DIKO’s leadership was unable to make the brave move and clear up its political arena as hinted over the past 72 hours. Instead it preferred to make a 180 degree turn and give cover to its deputy Marios Matsakis, characterising his decision to go ahead and sue for libel as brave. The reason the party gave behind this move was that it could not condemn Matsakis politically before his guilt is proven in a court of law.
ALITHIA: “Drugs stash found in suspect’s mouth”. Police found one gram of heroin and one and half grams of cannabis in 39-year-old Vassilis Charalambous’ mouth. Charalambous, from Ayios Dhometios in Nicosia, put the drugs there after police raided his house on Tuesday. The drug squad had been informed that he had intended to sell the drugs to Pontians Greeks living near the racetrack. Police said Charalambous bought the drugs from a Turkish Cypriot.
MACHI: “Paphos shocked by incidents”. Paphos is in turmoil after the serious incidents, which took place between Greek Pontians, the police and young Paphians on Tuesday night in Kato Paphos. The skirmishes resulted in eight injuries, including four policemen, and in the arrest of seven Greek Pontians. The ruckus stared at around 8pm on Tuesday when a group of 100 Pontians gathered on Agapinoros Street threatening to block off the road in protest at the beating of other Pontians by police the previous night.
POLITIS: “Rape claim”. A 21-year-old British tourist was found to have lied to police about a taxi driver who allegedly raped him. Initially the young man said he had taken a taxi from Ayia Napa to Protaras, and, unable to pay the driver had given him a necklace as guarantee of payment. When the taxi driver came to pick up the money, he allegedly raped the young man. The 21-year-old finally broke down during interrogation and admitted he had had consensual sex with the taxi driver.
HARAVGHI: “Solution depends on the Greek Cypriot side”. The British policy on the Cyprus problem, as outlined in the UN Secretary-general’s report, is that it does not present another possible solution other than the Annan plan. The existing position is a choice between that plan and no solution. That is the main conclusion reached by the Foreign Office’s EU department Dominic Chilckot. He said a solution would depend on the Greek Cypriot side, taking into account the Greek Cypriots’ concerns.
