N. Cyprus separatist elected

ISTANBUL: Ersin Tatar, prime minister of the breakaway state of North Cyprus, won a presidential election runoff yesterday with almost 52% of votes, in a result which could further strain ties with the Cypriot Government.

Tatar is a supporter of separate administrations on the Mediterranean island, which split after a 1974 Turkish invasion in response to a brief Greekinspired coup.

Incumbent president Mustafa Akinci (72) had been a supporter of reunification.

As well as having an impact on interisland talks, the election result may also affect negotiations over the contested maritime claims in the eastern Mediterranean, which have Turkey at odds with Greece and Cyprus.

Turkey, which is the only country to recognise North Cyprus as an independent state, said recently that separate administrations were the only solution after United Nationsmediated peace negotiations between Cyprus and North Cyprus broke down in 2017. — Reuters