Fisherman seized by Turks

TURKISH troops seized a Greek Cypriot fisherman on Sunday while he was snorkelling in the Kappari area off the island’s east coast.
Whether 45-year old Nicos Michael from Dherynia was on the Turkish-claimed side of the maritime security line is disputed.

The Greek Cypriot side says he was on the side of the buoys controlled by the government. According to reports from Larnaca, four Turkish soldiers in a speedboat apprehended Michael as he was swimming. The reports said he was swimming 300 metres away from the UN buoys that delineate the Maritime Security Line (MSL) on the Greek Cypriot side.

Michael was in the area in a small boat with a friend and was diving for fish. Witnesses said that when he was taken he was around 150 metres from the buoys, and had not crossed them.

He later spoke to his wife, and she crossed into the Famagusta area to visit him in custody.
Famagusta police are working jointly with UNFICYP to secure his release.

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