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M. Continuo

Turkish Cypriot leader says end to split in sight


    NICOSIA (Reuters) - Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said on Tuesday the election of a new Cypriot president offered a chance for relaunching reunification talks, that could come as early as April.

    "A new phase of negotiations may start by about April,"Talat told Reuters in an interview. "We have every reason toexpect a solution by the end of the year."

    Newly elected Cyprus President Demetris Christofias haspledged to re-launch efforts to reunite the ethnically dividedMediterranean island, a hurdle to Turkey's European Unionaccession hopes.

    (Reporting by Simon Bahceli and by Dina Kyriakidou; Editingby Elizabeth Piper)