Cyprus talks postponed for president's neck pain

Cyprus' reunification talks scheduled for Thursday were postponed as President Demetris Christofias was suffering from stiff neck.

Christofias, also the leader of the island's Greek Cypriot community, was to meet Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat in the UN-controlled buffer zone to continue their negotiations on governance and power-sharing.

However, Christofias canceled all his appointments for Thursday after his doctor recommended rest and prescribed medication, according to an official statement.

Christofias and Talat had an overtime meeting on Wednesday and planned to meet twice next week.

The two leaders have entered the second round of talks aimed at reunifying the island divided since 1974, when Turkey militarily intervened and occupied the north of the island following a coup by a group of Greek officers.

The two sides have agreed in principle on a formula based on a bicommunal bizonal federation, but still differ on how it should work.

Source: Xinhua