Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 02-04-21

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From: The Cyprus Mail at <http://www.cyprus-mail.com/>

Sunday, April 21, 2002

CONTENTS

[01] Police to examine footage of embassy clashes

[02] Hospital contractor's 'unreal' demand

[03] Cypriots tops worldwide in LCCI exams

[04] Thermal cameras to monitor Akamas for fires

[05] Boats destroyed in arson attack

[06] Police to examine footage of embassy clashes

[07] Boats destroyed in arson attack

[08] McRae holds on through thrills and spills

[01] Police to examine footage of embassy clashes

POLICE have been told to examine TV footage of Thursday night's violent clashes outside the Israeli ambassador's residence in Nicosia to determine whether criminal offences took place, the Attorney-general said yesterday.

Alecos Markides said he gave instructions to investigators to gather all pertinent material, especially footage of the trouble between protesters and police during the demonstration.

Four people were arrested during the protest that disrupted the Israeli ambassador's reception marking Israel's 54th anniversary.

The organisers of the demo, which was attended by some House of Representatives deputies, accused the police of using brute force against a crowd that was demonstrating peacefully. Police said the demonstrators were preventing guests from reaching the reception.

One of the four men arrested allegedly assaulted Nicosia Police Chief Nicos Theodorides, who had to be taken to hospital for treatment.

Markides said he would assess the footage before taking any action. He stressed, however, that the attack on Theodorides certainly constituted a criminal offence.

The Attorney-general revealed that during the trouble on Thursday he had received a phone call from Green party deputy George Perdikis, who had asked him to mediate with police so those arrested would be released.

Markides said that he had spoken with the police and from the information he had been given he determined that the arrests had been lawful.

Perdikis and AKEL deputy Eleni Mavrou on Thursday tried to wrest two of the suspects from the hands of the police.

In doing so Perdikis was involved in considerable pushing and shoving with officers, while engaging in a bitter verbal exchange.

Yesterday Markides stressed that all citizens had the right to express their opinions freely, but that no one had the right to prevent their access anywhere.

He said that at the same time citizens have the right to demonstrate peacefully, but the police are obliged to ensure the constitutional rights of everyone.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002

[02] Hospital contractor's 'unreal' demand

Reports yesterday said that the contractor was asking for a 288-week extension -- effectively pushing the delivery of the new hospital to August 2007.

The hospital was expected to be finished by February this year but the date changed to June 2003 in order to give the contractor time to complete several changes that had been decided upon.

Neophytou told the Sunday Mail that the contractor now claimed that he had been thrown off schedule by the changes and that he needed more time.

But according to the minister every week of delay could cost the taxpayer up to £40,000.

“It is not the first time we have seen such behaviour and demands,” Neophytou said.

“For us the deadline is June 2003.”

Neophytou said, however, that the contractor had every right to ask for an extension although in this case his claims initially seemed “unreal”.

His demands will be examined by the appropriate bodies, Neophytou said.

The hospital was initially estimated to cost around £37 million, but sor far it has reportedly cost around £39 million.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002

[03] Cypriots tops worldwide in LCCI exams

The LCCI Examination Board First Gold World awards have been presented to four Cypriot students -- Andri Panayotou, Stella Alexandrou, Vicky Hadjipetri and Angelina Papageorgiou -- who achieved the best results in worldwide exams held by the board in Bookkeeping Level I and Text Production Levels I, II, III.

Second Gold Awards were presented to three other students, Anna Valanidou, Tatiana Karanicola and Nina Morgan, for achieving the second highest marks.

LCCIEB qualifications were first introduced to Cyprus 50 years ago and are highly regarded by local employers.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002

[04] Thermal cameras to monitor Akamas for fires

A THERMAL camera detection system is to be installed in the Akamas Peninsula to monitor the area for fires on a 24-hour basis.

The system, funded by the European Union, is expected to be installed by 2003.

Forestry Department Chief Aristidis Ioannou told the Sunday Mail that the cameras will shorten fire response time by up to five minutes.

“The cameras will be an early warning system, able to detect heat changes in their respective areas,” Ioannou said.

“If fire breaks out, a signal will be transmitted to a central system in Drousia, which will be monitored by members of the Forestry Department.”

The system will have four cameras covering an area of 10 square kilometres.

“Three cameras will be installed in the southern part of Akamas, towards Lara and Ayios Georgios, and one camera at Elyssos will monitor the northern part,” Ioannou said.

The Forestry Department Chief said that until the system is installed, his department will be taking special measures this summer to prevent fires in the peninsula.

“We have already upgraded fire department personnel and placed fire points in different areas,” Ioannou said.

“Proposals have been submitted for the construction of several kilometres of fire lanes, as well as the construction of water tanks and surveillance posts at key points so that any sign of fire will be spotted immediately.”

Ioannou said the department's current fire response time is less than ten minutes.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002

[05] Boats destroyed in arson attack

The blaze was first spotted by a police officer of Famagusta CID. He notified the Fire Department, but despite their efforts, all four boats were completely destroyed.

Their owner, who is currently in England, has told police that the boats were insured.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002

[06] Police to examine footage of embassy clashes

POLICE have been told to examine TV footage of Thursday night's violent clashes outside the Israeli ambassador's residence in Nicosia to determine whether criminal offences took place, the Attorney-general said yesterday.

Alecos Markides said he gave instructions to investigators to gather all pertinent material, especially footage of the trouble between protesters and police during the demonstration.

Four people were arrested during the protest that disrupted the Israeli ambassador's reception marking Israel's 54th anniversary.

The organisers of the demo, which was attended by some House of Representatives deputies, accused the police of using brute force against a crowd that was demonstrating peacefully. Police said the demonstrators were preventing guests from reaching the reception.

One of the four men arrested allegedly assaulted Nicosia Police Chief Nicos Theodorides, who had to be taken to hospital for treatment.

Markides said he would assess the footage before taking any action. He stressed, however, that the attack on Theodorides certainly constituted a criminal offence.

The Attorney-general revealed that during the trouble on Thursday he had received a phone call from Green party deputy George Perdikis, who had asked him to mediate with police so those arrested would be released.

Markides said that he had spoken with the police and from the information he had been given he determined that the arrests had been lawful.

Perdikis and AKEL deputy Eleni Mavrou on Thursday tried to wrest two of the suspects from the hands of the police.

In doing so Perdikis was involved in considerable pushing and shoving with officers, while engaging in a bitter verbal exchange.

Yesterday Markides stressed that all citizens had the right to express their opinions freely, but that no one had the right to prevent their access anywhere.

He said that at the same time citizens have the right to demonstrate peacefully, but the police are obliged to ensure the constitutional rights of everyone.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002

[07] Boats destroyed in arson attack

The blaze was first spotted by a police officer of Famagusta CID. He notified the Fire Department, but despite their efforts, all four boats were completely destroyed.

Their owner, who is currently in England, has told police that the boats were insured.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002

[08] McRae holds on through thrills and spills

THERE WERE plenty of thrills, a fair share of spills and a lot of retirements yesterday on the longest leg of the Cyprus Rally, round five of the 2002 World Rally Championship, but overnight leader Colin McRae hung on to his lead through an eventful day which almost saw the rally washed away.

Forty-seven of the original 60 starters set out at 6am. After Friday night's storms, it was damp underfoot and there was a distinct chill in the air but it didn't deter the handful of fans who turned out to wave the crews off.

The first fifteen cars started in reverse order, so it was Gabriel Pozzo who left the re-start first, though Ford's Colin McRae was at the top of the leader board, just 6.9 seconds ahead of Marcus Gronholm's Peugeot.

McRae chose tyres to cope with the mud on the stages after the overnight rain, as did Carlos Sainz, who was a lowly 23rd after a disastrous first day in which he was plagued with problems. The choice was a good one, with Sainz blistering through the first two stages fastest, though power steering troubles cost McRae precious seconds on stage nine and he arrived at the first service a mere 1.9 seconds ahead of Gronholm.

Subaru's Tommi Makinen was also making headway, and came into the first service in third position, ahead of Ford's Markko Martin and the Peugeot of Harri Rovanpera. Petter Solberg, in the second Subaru, was determined to make up time lost on the first day and drove like a man possessed, clocking top six times in the morning, and fastest over the three early afternoon stages to move from 16th to 9th by the second service halt.

The ominous clouds which had been threatening all day finally burst as the lead crews tackled the afternoon stages in the mountains and the deluge caused havoc. “I have done many, many rallies and never seen anything like it” was Makinen's comment, while Solberg likened the muddy conditions to “driving on ice with slick tyres” - but he didn't let it slow him down.

Stage 12 saw the demise of four top drivers: Hyundai's Freddy Loix, Mitsubishi's Alister McRae, and Roman Kresta and Bruno Thiry while several more had problems.

Despite the appalling weather -- McRae described stage twelve as “the most treacherous I've ever driven” --the Scot had extended his lead to 25.4 seconds by the second service halt. Conditions were so bad in the mountains that stage 14 was cancelled, so the weary crews headed up to Platres for the third time, for the final stage of the day, which proved uneventful.

At the end of the second Leg McRae had a lead of 26.2 seconds over Gronholm, Tommi Makinen was third, 10.3 seconds in front of Richard Burns' Peugeot, with Harri Rovanpera, in another Peugeot, fifth, despite a roll earlier in the day, and Markko Martin sixth. Solberg's storming drive put him 8th, behind Kenneth Eriksson's Skoda, with Armin Schwarz ninth and Manfred Stohl rounding off the top ten.

Today's final leg takes the surviving crews north-east of Limassol, and finishes at 4.30pm on Limassol seafront.

Copyright Cyprus Mail 2002

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