Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 98-10-28

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From: The Cyprus Mail at <http://www.cynews.com/>

Wednesday, October 28, 1998

Concern at police brutality

THE MAIN focus of yesterday's papers was on allegations that policemen used excessive force to quell an immigrant uprising on Friday. Television footage showed the savage beating of several of the immigrants, some of whom ended up in hospital.

Wide coverage was also given to the tragic story of Vergina Nicolaidou, the little girl who died after being trampled by a horse at the UN Open Day on Saturday. Nicolaidou's parents had given consent for her organs to be used for transplant.

Phileleftheros expressed the government's fears that waves of immigrants would start arriving in Cyprus through Lebanon. It reported that there had been reactions at political level to the claims that police used more than necessary force. These reactions, Phileleftheros says, have "forced" the Attorney-general, Alecos Markides, to order a criminal inquiry into the matter.

With the headline "Little Vergina gives life to her fellow man", the paper said that Nicolaidou had been declared brain dead and that she had been taken to Nicosia's Paraskevaidio Transplant Centre for the transplants to be carried out.

Alithia focused on President Glafcos Clerides assurances that he had obtained the best possible price for the purchase of the S-300 missiles. This statement came after Greek businessman Vasilis Vranas claimed that if he had been used as middleman in the deal he would have lowered the purchase price by 25 per cent. The government says no middleman was used in the deal in order to lower costs.

Simerini also focused on the missile story, saying that Vranas' charges were now before the House of Representatives.

Haravghi had "Mass Condemnation of Barbarism" as its main headline, referring to political reactions to the violence against the immigrants.

Machi also gives attention to the S-300 issue and to apparent co- operation between smaller parties to oppose any possible reform of the current proportional electoral system in favour of a more direct form of suffrage that would likely slash their representation in parliament.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1998

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