The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Nicosia

Hardline Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos was ousted on Sunday in the first round of Greek Cypriot elections, a result seen as renewing hopes for efforts to end the island's three-decade division. Former foreign minister Ioannis Kasoulides, backed by the right-wing, and communist party chief Demetris Christofias will battle it out in a presidential runoff on February 24, after the Greek Cypriots voted for change. The result proved a major upset for Papadopoulos, who was a favourite for re-election in the opinion polls and who campaigned on a hardline stance on the Cyprus problem. In the final results after a cliffhanger contest, Papadopoulos came in third behind Kasoulides and then Christofias, who were separated by less than 1,000 votes. The outgoing president was about 7,000 votes behind the frontrunners.