A group of Greek Cypriot refugees from villages occupied by Turkish troops in last July's invasion on Tuesday (31 December) began a 24-hour hunger strike in Nicosia's main square.

The demonstrators -- led by about 50 students -- were seeking the implementation of a united Nation resolution calling for the withdrawal refugees to their homes. An estimated 200,000 Greek Cypriots were displaced when the Turks occupied the northern half of the island, and are living in tents or requisitioned quarters.

The hunger strikers were mainly members of the Cyprus Socialist Party, and their demonstration was peaceful. They carried placards bearing such slogans as "Foreign Armies Out of Cyprus" and " Not another Palestine."
As they huddled on the pavement, hundreds of passers by carried family presents for the New Year's Eve celebration -- the top social event of the Cypriot calender.