Socialists Quit Posts in Missile Dispute

The Socialist junior partners in the Cypriot governing coalition quit over the cancellation of plans to deploy Russian-made antiaircraft missiles on the divided island. “The vast majority clearly support the withdrawal from the government, and so our departure should be considered a fact,” Vassos Lyssarides, leader of the Unified Democratic Union of Cyprus-Socialist Party, or EDEK-SK, said in Nicosia. The move does not endanger the administration but does mean a Cabinet reshuffle. The government abandoned plans to deploy the missiles after the international community promised to work more vigorously for a settlement of Cyprus’ division between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.