Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos was eliminated in the first round of a presidential election today.
Cyprus presidential candidate Demetris Christofias, assisted by his grandson, casts his vote in Nicosia
Challengers Ioannis Kassoulides and communist Demetris Christofias will hold a run-off on February 24th.
Final results showed Mr Kassoulides ahead with 33.5 per cent of the vote, Mr Christofias second with 33.3 per cent, and Mr Papadopoulos third with 31.78 per cent.
Analysts said today's election was crucial for stalled Cyprus peace talks to reunite Cyprus's ethnic Greeks and Turks, divided since a Turkish invasion in 1974 sparked by a brief Greek-inspired coup.
Mr Papadopoulos led his Greek Cypriot community to reject a UN peace plan for Cyprus in 2004.
Cyprus is now represented in the EU by its Greek Cypriots.
Without a solution, Greek-led Cyprus will never agree to Turkey's admission into the EU. The problem could also complicate cooperation between Nato, of which Turkey is a member, and the security arm of the EU, the ESDP.
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