NICOSIA, April 8: Cyprus made an angry protest to Israel on Monday after six Cypriot MPs were barred from entering the Jewish state on a fact-finding mission that was to have included a visit to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

The all-party group of MPs was held at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport for five hours on Sunday and sent home on the next available flight, members of the group said.

The Israeli embassy in Nicosia said it had told the MPs beforehand they would be unable to see Arafat because the West Bank city of Ramallah had been declared a restricted military area.

When the Cypriot MPs told airport staff the purpose of their visit was to enter Palestinian Authority areas and “take any necessary steps” to see Arafat their entry was denied, the embassy said.

“We are very upset. I personally regarded myself as a friend of Israel,” said MP Marios Matsakis.

The Cypriot foreign ministry summoned Israeli ambassador Michel Eligal on Monday and lodged a formal protest against the treatment of the legislators, ministry officials said.—Reuters