February 04, 2008	Monday	Muharram 25, 1429

LARNACA (Cyprus), Feb 3: Nine British troops serving in Cyprus have been arrested and charged after allegedly smashing up a pub and attacking locals in the holiday resort of Ayia Napa, authorities said on Sunday.

Police said around 20 soldiers burst into the Bedrock pub in the southern coastal town and starting wrecking the place in the early hours of Saturday morning before officers intervened.

Five people were injured in the mayhem as tables, chairs and bottles were thrown. A soldier remains in hospital with a fractured skull. British Forces Cyprus said nine soldiers had returned to barracks after being charged by police with a variety of offences.

“This is the most serious incident we’ve had for some time and we will ensure these men will appear in court,” BFC spokesman Dennis Barnes said.

The soldiers were out celebrating “millionaire’s weekend,” so-called because it was their last pay packet in Cyprus before their tour of duty ends in March. Many of those involved have served tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“The army cannot condone any form of violence or destruction to Cypriot property.

If found guilty in a court of law there will be other consequential penalties from the military,” Barnes said.

Police said the nine face a series of charges, the most serious being grievous bodily harm which carries a maximum jail term of seven years.

The extent of the damage amounted to around 5,000 euros ($7,400).

“A friend of mine suffered a broken nose after he was hit with a pair of crutches. He also had to spend three hours in hospital to have 22 stitches to his face,” Bedrock owner Kyriacos Hadjiyiannis told the Sunday Mail newspaper.

Parts of Ayia Napa are strictly out of bounds to British troops following a rash of violent and drunken behaviour in the mid 1990s.

Last year, two British marines returning from Afghanistan were charged with assaulting a Limassol taxi driver after breaking curfew for a night out on the town during a Cyprus stopover.—AFP