OVER 20,000 GREEK CYPRIOTS PACKED THE SQUARE IN FRONT OF THE CYPRUS ARCHBISHOPRIC IN NICOSIA YESTERDAY (MONDAY, MARCH 9TH), TO PAY MASS TRIBUTE TO ARCHBISHOP MAKARIOS, TARGET OF AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT THE PREVIOUS DAY.

THE CROWD OF MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN CAME FROM ALL PARTS OF THE ISLAND BY BUS TO SEE PRESIDENT MAKARIOS MAKE A BRIEF APPEARANCE FROM HIS BALCONY. THE ASSEMBLY SEEMED UNANIMOUSLY IN SUPPORT OF HIM.

AFTER HEARING THEIR PRESIDENT TELL THEM HIS LOVE FOR THEM, THE PEOPLE OF CYPRUS, GAVE HIM STRENGTH FOR HIS TASKS, THE CROWD MARCHED IN PROCESSION THROUGH THE STREETS OF NICOSIA CARRYING PRO-MAKARIOS PLACARDS.

AFTERWARDS, ARCHBISHOP MAKARIOS DROVE IN HIS BLACK CADILLAC WITH A STRONG POLICE GUARD TO THE HOSPITAL CARING FOR THE HELICOPTER PILOT GRAVELY WOUNDED BY GUNFIRE DURING THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT. THE PILOT, GRAVELY ILL, IS REPORTED TO HAVE IMPROVED SLIGHTLY.

FIVE MEN REMANDED IN CUSTODY YESTERDAY IN CONNECTION WITH POLICE ENQUIRIES INTO SUNDAY'S ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT WERE RELEASED TODAY. ANOTHER FIVE MEN ARE STILL BEING HELD UNDER AN EIGHT-DAY REMAND ORDER.

AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT SAID THAT POLICE WERE PURSUING INQUIRIES INTO THE POSSESSION OF TWO LOADED PISTOLS BY FORMER INTERIOR MINISTER POLYCARPOS GEORGHADJIS. MR. GEORGHADJIS ANNOUNCED SHORTLY AFTERWARDS THAT HE WAS TAKING LEGAL ACTION OVER THE STATEMENT.