Precautionary measures taken ahead of demonstration

NICOSIA authorities are in the process of removing ornamental pebbles from the roundabout in Anthropina Dikaomata (“Human Rights”) Square outside the Presidential Palace, ahead of a third night of protest tonight.

As of 2 pm, several tonnes of white, tennis ball sized pebbles were waiting to be loaded by two diggers into two dumper trucks.

Meanwhile, around 15 workmen with brooms and shovels sweltered in 37 degree heat to clear potential missiles from the surrounding area.

One policeman was supervising the operation, with two diggers and two dumper trucks clearing the pebbles.

Tuesday night’s tear gassing of several thousand peaceful demonstrators by police outside the Presidential Palace began after a small group of hooligans, variously estimated to be between five and 50, threw rocks at the police.

Police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos said that 300 demonstrators attacked the palace on Tuesday night.

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