NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Initial partial results show a hardline challenger nearing the 50 percent threshold needed to win a key Turkish Cypriot leadership election.
The results posted on the Turkish Cypriot High Electoral Board’s Web site give Dervis Eroglu 49.79 percent of the vote after nearly 56 percent of the ballots counted. Leftist incumbent Mehmet Ali Talat trails with 43.06 percent.
Seven candidates are running in the election. A candidate needs 50 percent plus 1 vote to win. Otherwise, the top two candidates head to an April 25 runoff.
It’s feared a win by Eroglu — who advocates separate sovereignty for the breakaway Turkish Cypriots — could deadlock peace talks with Greek Cypriots.
Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup by supporters of union with Greece.
