Hatziathanasis testified that he then saw Kakoulis about 200m away with his hands raised. He then saw two soldiers from the occupied zone fire two shots, then move closer and fire a third shot at close range. Hatziathanasis then ran to the nearest police station to report the killing.

The incident occurred near the British base at Dhekelia. Base police and officials of the United Nations peace-keeping force were not permitted to approach the site of the incident until Kakoulis' body had been removed by Turkish Cypriot authorities later this morning. The body was taken to a hospital in Famagusta for a post-mortem and will be handed over to the UN force tomorrow.

Cypriot government spokesman Yannakis Cassoulidis called the killing an act of cold-blooded murder, since there had been no provocation on the part of Kakoulis, who had been unarmed. The Turkish Cypriot authorities, who confirmed the killing to the UN force, say that Kakoulis had "intruded" into the occupied territory.

Meanwhile, in Athens, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas condemned what he called a criminal act, which he said not only confirmed the criminal and terrorist nature of the regime in occupied northern Cyprus, but proved that Turkey's preferred policy was to create tension in the region.

The Turkish occupation forces in northern Cyprus, he said, acted like common criminals.

"What else has to happen," he added, "for the international community to realise that as long as the Cyprus issue remains unresolved, it remains a source of danger for the region in general."

The confidence vote was returned by 161 socialist votes but voted against by 134 New Democracy party conservatives, communist (KKE - Communist party), left wing Coalition of the left and Progress party and the Social Democratic Movement (DHKKI).

Prime Minister Simitis closed the debate last night by responding to opposition criticism of the government's foreign and economic policy, and reiterating the need for action on the economic front.

He dismissed a fifteen-point "questionnaire" raised by main opposition New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert earlier in the evening as nothing more than accusations. The government's foreign policy was aimed, said Simitis, at promoting all alliances, while ND's policy was superficial and improvised. With regard to Greece's relations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), the prime minister stressed that public debate on the pending issue of that country's name would have a negative effect on Greece's negotiating ability. However, he offered to brief Evert or any other party leader in person.

Simitis clarified that in using the term "differences" in relation to Turkey he had been referring only to Imia and the continental shelf, and criticised Evert for his campaign statements on the issue.

In the economic sector, bold decisions were required whatever the cost, since "political acrobatics" did not serve the country's interests, continued the prime minister. He accused the main opposition party of "wasting its energy", emphasising that Greece had to keep up with European unity if it did not want to be left behind. There could be no monetary reform without interventions, he added, since there was no such thing as a miracle.

Meanwhile, phrases such as "the people were starving" were examples of cheap populism, he went on, reiterating his government's position that the "haves" would be called on to contribute.

Responding to criticism from the Left Coalition regarding institutional reform, he drew attention to achievements such as the introduction of objective criteria for public service recruitment, as well as the upgraded role for Parliament and prefectural administration.

Turning to the question over the school leaving certificate introduced by former Education Minister George Papandreou, which his successor Gerasimos Arsenis has decided to review, Simitis called the new system a radical innovation which required further dialogue in order to achieve a broader consensus.

SPORT

WEATHER

(M.S.)

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article