The speaker of the Cyprus Parliament has called on President Glafcos Clerides to hold an early presidential election.

Correspondents say the new call by the the speaker, Spyros Kyprianou, is the latest indication of the friction between the two men over the future of the island.

Mr Kyprianou was speaking in Nicosia as he was preparing to leave for the United States for heart surgery.

Correspondents say that some opposition parties in Cyprus feel that the tide is beginning to turn in favour of a confederation in Cyprus, which would allow a two-state solution, as demanded by Turkey.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded the northern half of the island and established a breakaway Turkish- Cypriot enclave which is recognised only by Ankara.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service