THE STAND-off between the Commerce Ministry and petrol station operators over Monday’s government order capping fuel prices continued yesterday, following unanimous decisions by the five district committees of operators’ association.

President of POVEK’s petrol station operators’ section, Stefanos Stefanou, said his members’ main demand now is that the estimated €150,000-200,000 cost of the price-cap for the eight days covered by the order should be borne by the oil companies, whose wholesale prices to the station operators are determining the price at the pump.

THE LUKOIL in downtown Nicosia’s Nikis Avenue was in chaos yesterday, with long lines snaking around the block and frustration boiling over, as motorists scrambled to fill their tanks at the only petrol station open in the area.

Motorists sat in long lines waiting to get into the station, in long lines to get to the pump, and again in long lines to get back out to the street after they had paid.

While most punters squared the blamed at petrol station owners rather than the government, all agreed that the strike is a punishment and an unfair burden the public.

“This is punishing the people,” said Savvas Evangelou, who stopped by the station late yesterday afternoon to fill his tank.

“It is being done for profit by the owners,” he added.

A WEEK AGO the House of Representatives approved a resolution declaring that foreign guarantees were incompatible with an independent and sovereign state. It condemned Turkey’s arbitrary interpretation of the Treaty of Guarantee and called on Ankara to work towards ensuring Cyprus’ territorial integrity and independence by withdrawing its occupation troops.

Hundreds such resolutions have been passed over the years without anyone giving them a second thought and the same would have happened last week, had it not been for Mehmet Ali Talat’s intervention. On hearing that a resolution about Turkish guarantees had been drafted by the legislature, Talat contacted President Christofias and the DISY leader, asking whether its adoption could be avoided.

THE TURKISH Cypriot ‘parliament’ yesterday unanimously adopted a resolution strongly condemning the Greek Cypriot parliament’s rejection of guarantor rights last Thursday.

According to the Bayrak website, Turkish Cypriot ‘deputies’ condemned parliament’s rejection last week of guarantors or guarantees for a united Republic of Cyprus which would be an EU member state.

Yesterday’s Turkish Cypriot counter-resolution accused the Greek Cypriot side of attempting to “render the Cyprus negotiations meaningless and remove the basis of the talks”. It also argued Turkey’s guarantor right “has been providing peace and security to the island…and should be the basic element of a comprehensive solution” to the Cyprus problem.

A TELECOMMUNICATIONS employee and private detective were both arrested yesterday afternoon in connection with investigations into the illegal passing on of telecommunication personal data.

CID officers at Police Headquarters were yesterday evening questioning a 35-year-old employee of the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CyTA) and a 40-year-old private detective who is a former policeman. Both men are from Limassol.

According to state broadcaster CyBC, more arrests have not been ruled out. It is believed that the 35-year-old was allegedly passing on telecommunications data of a large number of CyTA clients to a third person, who would then pass them on to the private detective.

A T.V. PRESENTER and her brother yesterday pleaded not guilty to charges related to the murder of media boss Andis Hadjicostis last month.

Elena Skordelli, 42, and her 37-year-old brother Tasos Krasopoulis denied all seven charges – three counts of conspiracy to commit murder and premeditated murder as well as lesser charges relating to the possession and use of a firearm.

The premeditated murder charge carries a sentence of mandatory life imprisonment.

The court said it will decide on Friday on whether to release or keep the suspects in custody until their trial, which starts on June 7.

A third suspect, Andreas Gregoriou, will be formally charged on April 21.

THE GOVERNMENT and ruling AKEL yesterday appeared satisfied by DIKO’s decision to stay in the government coalition.

“We welcome the decision of the Democratic Party’s central committee decision to continue its participation in the government,” government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said.

“This decision satisfies us because we too were in favour of continuing the cooperation.”

On Tuesday, the DIKO central committee voted overwhelmingly – 73 per cent – in favour of the party remaining in the government coalition.

Out of a total of 172 committee members present, 124 voted in favour of staying and 46 against.

This is considered a victory for DIKO chairman Marios Garoyian against the party hardliners who wanted an immediate departure.

‘The average age of FGM is between four and eight, and it happens on average every 10 seconds’

FEMALE Genital Mutilation (FGM) is now a growing concern for Cypriot healthcare professionals, but a visiting expert was yesterday optimistic about ending the barbaric practice across Europe.

Leyla Hussein, a British healthcare worker with Somalian parents – and a former FGM victim – told gathered Cypriot, EU and NGO representatives, “There is hope. I am proof that you can break the cycle.”

The representatives were gathered to discuss and promote a campaign to eradicate FGM in Europe and in Cyprus.