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| Cyprus elections rivals set for 'close race' | Cyprus elections rivals set for 'close race' |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Voting has ended in Cyprus' parliamentary elections, with opinion polls indicating a tight race between the two main rivals. | |
| The Turkish-controlled north of the island did not take part. | |
| The BBC's Tabitha Morgan in Nicosia says that, unusually, the question of how to reunite the island barely surfaced during the campaign. | The BBC's Tabitha Morgan in Nicosia says that, unusually, the question of how to reunite the island barely surfaced during the campaign. |
| Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish forces invaded the island in response to a Greek-led coup. | Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish forces invaded the island in response to a Greek-led coup. |
| The election campaign has been one of the most lacklustre since Cyprus gained independence from Britain 51 years ago, our correspondent says. | The election campaign has been one of the most lacklustre since Cyprus gained independence from Britain 51 years ago, our correspondent says. |
| Although the unresolved reunification issue and the exposure of Cypriot banks to those in Greece have dominated public debate, the major parties have shied away from such contentious matters, focusing more on personalities than policies, she adds. | Although the unresolved reunification issue and the exposure of Cypriot banks to those in Greece have dominated public debate, the major parties have shied away from such contentious matters, focusing more on personalities than policies, she adds. |
| Opinion polls are indicating a close race between traditional rivals the communist-rooted Akel and the conservative Disy parties. | Opinion polls are indicating a close race between traditional rivals the communist-rooted Akel and the conservative Disy parties. |
| Cypriot President Demitris Christofias relaunched talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat in 2008. | Cypriot President Demitris Christofias relaunched talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat in 2008. |
| But the talks have become bogged down and produced little in the way of real progress. | But the talks have become bogged down and produced little in the way of real progress. |
| Mr Christofias's handling of Cyprus's struggling economy has also come under fierce criticism at home. | Mr Christofias's handling of Cyprus's struggling economy has also come under fierce criticism at home. |
| Analysts say he will need a strong parliamentary majority to push through the difficult and unpopular decisions he will inevitably have to take in the months ahead. | Analysts say he will need a strong parliamentary majority to push through the difficult and unpopular decisions he will inevitably have to take in the months ahead. |