Cyprus marks 42nd anniversary of coup

Cyprus marked on Friday the anniversary of a coup 42 years ago that led to one of the longest standing and most complicated international problems facing the United Nations.

Sirens sent out blood-curdling shrills at 8.20 in the morning to mark the time shooting started and parliament met to deplore the coup.

Events were held in memory of hundreds of soldiers and civilians killed in the fighting during the short lived coup against the Cypriot government on July 15, 1974.

The coup, which was organized by the right wing military rulers of Greece aspiring to turn the eastern Mediterranean island into Greek territory, gave a pretext to Turkey to mount a military operation a week later that ended in the occupation of over one third of Cyprus's territory.

Cyprus called the action an invasion, but Turkey claimed it was making use of a right for an intervention under a system of guarantees for the restoration of the status quo.

But far from restoring constitutional order, the Turkish action led to the partitioning of Cyprus and the displacement of one third of the Greek Cypriot population, giving rise to a problem that haunts the United Nations for over four decades.

Turkey's action caused the collapse of the coup in Cyprus and the restoration of democratic government in Greece a few days later after seven years of military rule.

The marking of the anniversary came amid high hopes that Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader, engaged in negotiations for over a year, are nearing an agreement for the reunification of the island EU country. Endit