March 16, 2007	Friday	Safar 26, 1428

NICOSIA, March 15: The Cyprus parliament on Thursday voted in favour of adopting the euro as planned on Jan 1 despite opposition from a senior partner in the island's ruling coalition. The 56-seat house in Cyprus, which joined the EU in May 2004, passed the legislation by 36 votes to 15 against after a three-hour debate. Five deputies were absent. Cyprus had to approve EU-mandated legislation in order to adopt the euro as planned as the European Central Bank deadline for the vote was Thursday.—AFP