The Turkish leader of northern Cyprus threatened by rival

Mustafa Akıncı came second yesterday of the election held in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), an unrecognized by the international community entity. With 26.9% of votes, independent candidate has less than two points behind the outgoing leader, Derviş Eroğlu, who gets him 28.2% of the vote.

The hope of voters is the reunification of the divided island in two for almost 40 years, including a Greek southern part. "The presence of Mustafa Akıncı the second round against Derviş Eroğlu, is regarded as a commitment to change by the population. Who will be the next leader of the Turkish part of the island? This will be the voters to decide next week, "said our correspondent Bora Bayraktar.

"I congratulate the people for their courage. Because change requires courage and our people has shown. They did it for them, and they should know. I am sure that the outcome of this election will be good, "said one voter.

The winner will have to resume the peace talks, suspended for more than six months by the Greek part of the island that is a member of the European Union.