CYRPUS: The political scene is shifting in Cyprus ahead of the April 24th referendums on the UN plan to reunify the island in a federation. The left-wing Akel party, the largest on the Greek Cypriot side, said it could back the plan if the Security Council gave firm guarantees it would be implemented.
Last week Akel asked for postponement of the referendums until certain issues could be resolved but the US Secretary of State, Mr Colin Powell, said assurances had been given to the Greek Cypriots concerning Ankara's intentions.
A poll published yesterday revealed that the number of Greek Cypriots opposing the plan had fallen from 71 to 54 per cent, but those abandoning the No camp had joined the ranks of the undecided. The percentage of supporters of the plan rose only from 12 to 17 per cent. The backers on the Turkish Cypriot side increased from 59 to 62 per cent.