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Britain and Cyprus Slam Bases Riots
Wednesday, July 04, 2001 2:19 p.m. EDT
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NICOSIA (Reuters) - Britain and Cyprus condemned local protesters on Wednesday who clashed with riot police at a British air base over the building of radio masts suspected of posing a health hazard.
"The violence was completely unacceptable," British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told BBC radio.
British troops and riot police fought with scores of angry Greek Cypriot youths on Tuesday night at RAF Akrotiri, Britain's largest air force facility outside the United Kingdom.
But the mood outside the base 24 hours later was somber as local residents gathered close to the site where Britain plans to construct the antennae by 2003.
"This sort of violence is condemnable. Absolutely," said Christakis Pericles, a resident of the village of Akrotiri.
Construction work on the site was halted on Wednesday after laborers failed to turn up for work, British sources said.
At least 34 people were injured in the overnight clashes, which broke out after the arrest of a Cypriot MP who tried to break into the base in southwestern Cyprus.
His supporters stormed a police station shortly before he was released by base authorities. Local police officers were punched, kicked and pelted with missiles ranging from sticks and stones to cabbages and melons.
Vehicles were set on fire and protesters also attacked construction site equipment.
The damage to British facilities was estimated at between 400,000 and 500,000 Cyprus pounds ($600,000 to $740,000).
"The people who carried out these acts are criminals and hooligans," said Jim Guy, a Chief Superintendent with the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) police.
FORTHRIGHT CONDEMNATION
The maverick MP, Marios Matsakis, who has led demonstrations against the British base in the past, is heading a local campaign against the construction of the 300 ft (100 meter) masts.
Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides, in a forthright condemnation of the clashes, said no one had the right to take the country's interests into their own hands and that the issue of the new antennae was a matter between two governments.
"The Cyprus government condemns the actions of Mr. Matsakis, which led to last night's unacceptable trouble," he said in a statement.
Local people argue the antennae emissions could cause cancer, but Britain denies the masts will pose a health threat.
"The concerns of residents are perfectly justified," said Eleni Mavrou, an MP of the leftist AKEL party. As a member of the parliamentary environment committee, Mavrou said she was briefed on the scientific impacts of the operations of the mast on Wednesday morning.
The Cypriot government has openly expressed reservations about the project, and has asked for work to be delayed until new electromagnetic tests are carried out.
Britain retains sovereignty over its Cypriot bases in a deal worked out in 1960 when the island gained its independence.
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FROM THE LYCOS NETWORK:
See! Things like that happen in the UK too. And these people were just hooligans not terrorists.
Originally Posted by TURK
But most probably their government is supporting them for actions against the Turks.
Well at least that doesn't seem to be the British government's opinion. And I would find the Cypriot government pretty supid if it supported such pathetic actions.
I suggest everybody to search and read about the Greek attacks to Turkish families before the 1974 war which brought peace to the island. And some Greek people on this forum (!) should know about the genocides made by the Greeks in Cyprus. I'm sure that most of you will be shocked to see the dead Turkish children...
Are you talking about democracy? Are you talking about human rights??? Come on! Please be more reasonable!
What does that have to do? Yes you're right this is a perfect example of greek terrorism (I'm serious). Some Greeks in Cyprus have always done these kind of things. Unlike the Turks who do worse (not so much the people but the governments).
Reading this topic, I thought for a moment that Britain had declared war to Greece! But as it seems the truth is that Britain doesn't have anything against Greece or Cyprus to which she is allied anyway through the EU and the Comonwealth.
About this flag you put under your sig (it the flag of the "republic of Northern Cyprus"). It an internationally unrecognised flag since the regime of northern Cyprus is illegal itself.
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<IMG SRC="http://www.virtuallandmedia.com/img1/flags-4/europe/fra.gif" border=0> Az <IMG SRC="http://www.virtuallandmedia.com/img1/flags-4/europe/gre.gif" border=0>
[This message has been edited by Az (edited July 05, 2001).]
