NICOSIA, Dec 29: Turkish Cypriots on Friday began demolishing an elevated walkway on a street straddling the divided island in a bid to end a row with Greek Cypriots over opening a new crossing point, officials said.

“The work started this morning. Technical preparations required for the demolition are being made,” said Asim Akansoy, an aide to Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

He said the work was expected to be completed after the four-day Eidul Azha holiday ending on Wednesday.

Preparations to open Ledra Street, a visible symbol of the world’s last divided capital Nicosia, were halted in Dec 2005, when the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot government said the overpass encroached into the UN-controlled buffer zone separating the two sides.

Although the UN said no ceasefire infringement had taken place, it urged that the construction be halted so a solution could be negotiated.

Mr Talat announced the decision to dismantle the walkway on Thursday.

Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos said on Friday that the main stumbling block to opening the capital’s main thoroughfare was the metal bridge and the presence of Turkish armed forces in the area.

“If the bridge is demolished and (Turkish) troops pull back so as not to impede people’s movement, and if any symbols marking it as a customs checkpoint are removed, then we can bring down the wall on our side within 24 hours,” he told reporters.

A government statement expressed a “wish for dialogue” but said it was up to the Turkish Cypriot side “to prove if it is sincerely interested in opening Ledra Street”.

The Turkish Cypriot move has been hailed as a positive step by the United Nations, US and UK.—AFP