N.Cyprus awaits coalition deal after tied polls

[papau]

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3728818/ N.Cyprus awaits coalition deal after tied polls
By Gill Tudor

The hung result, giving the pro-Denktash and anti-Denktash camps 25 seats each, leaves the breakaway Turkish Cypriot mini-state in political deadlock and peace prospects in limbo. It could also hamper the ambitions of Turkey, the only country to recognize the enclave, to join the European Union.

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said the Ankara government was working with the enclave to map the way ahead and end nearly three decades of division along ethnic lines.

"We will bring out concrete measures next week. Right now we are in preparations for a compromise (with the Greek Cypriots)," Anatolian news agency quoted him as saying on a trip to Japan.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said the poll result showed Turkish Cypriots wanted a settlement, but not at any cost.<snip>

He said Monday that fresh polls would have to be called in two months if no stable government could be formed.<snip>