Cyprus sloopt Nicosia muur (en)

The government of Cyprus began demolition late on Thursday night of a wall dividing the Greek and Turkish parts of Nicosia - Europe's last divided capital.

The Greek Cypriot military started just before midnight (8 March) to take down a wall within the old part of the Cypriot capital Nicosia that separates it from the Turkish side, completing the demolition early this morning.

"Tonight, we demolished a checkpoint on our side," Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said, according to news agency AP. "Now we will see whether Turkey's troops will withdraw so that the passage will be opened or not," he added.

Mr Papadopoulos said the unannounced move had been planned for more than 15 days and is part of fresh efforts to start trade between the two sides under the initiative of the current EU presidency, Germany.

The move also coincides with Mr Papadopoulos' visit to Brussels for the ongoing EU leaders' meeting in Brussels.

"This is a first positive step as a sign of goodwill on behalf of our side," government spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardis said, according to press reports.

"Our main concern is security in the area, and we are hopeful that the other side will come to negotiations on the issue," Mr Pashiardis said according to AFP.

The wall at the bottom of the commercial Ledra Street - which housed a National Guard post and a sign declaring Nicosia the last divided capital of Europe - should have been demolished 15 months ago when the Turkish Cypriots also started work on their side.

But earlier this year, Greek Cypriots were angered over a Turkish Cypriot move to dismantle a footbridge in the area, frustrating plans for a new crossing in the heart of the island capital.

Five other checkpoints have opened since April 2003, allowing Greek and Turkish Cypriots to visit the other side for the first time in three decades.

The so-called Green Line buffer zone dividing Cyprus runs some 180 kilometres across the island and through the ancient Venetian city.

The island has been split since 1974 after Turkey invaded the island in reaction to a Greek-inspired coup in Nicosia. The Turkish Cypriot administration in the northern part is only recognised by Turkey, which maintains some 35,000 troops there.

Cyprus-Turkey differences are currently stalling Ankara's EU membership talks.

In December member states froze eight negotatiating areas in reaction to Turkey's continued refusal to extend an EU customs agreement to Cyprus.

Turkey says it will not open its ports and airports to trade from Cyprus until the economic isolation of the nothern part of the island is ended.