Campaigning ends for Cyprus plan

Making history: Turkish Cypriot men pose in a cardboard map of Cyprus

Campaigning has ended in Cyprus ahead of Saturday's referendum on whether to accept a UN plan to reunify the island.

The vote has stirred strong feelings on both sides of the divided territory.

Early indications are that the northern Turkish part will back reunification - but the Greek part of the island looks set to reject the plan.

Voters on both sides must approve the plan if it is to be implemented. If it fails, European Union law will only apply to the Greek Cypriot part.

Diplomats are worried a Greek veto will put paid to years of international pressure to reconcile the two parts of the island, split since an invasion by Turkish troops in 1974.

Turkish reversal

The final demonstrations to rally support for and against the plan have been held.

"I feel like a tourist in my own country. We don't get back what we had with this solution."

Katia, Greek Cypriot

In pictures

Large groups of people gathered in the Turkish part of the island late on Thursday, calling for the plan to be accepted.

Large crowds had also gathered in the island's Greek portion - but they were calling for the UN plan to be rejected.

The BBC's Jonny Dymond says Turkish Cypriots' support for reunification effectively reverses a historical trend, which had cast them in the role of the rejectionists.

Russian rejection

The plan crafted by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan envisages a loose federal structure for the island.

"We are not ready to live together because of the war."

Aliye Kemal, Turkish Cypriot student

In pictures

Many Greek Cypriots refugees who fled the Turkish assault would be allowed to return and recover some of the land they lost - but Turkish troops would be allowed to maintain a pared-down garrison on the island.

Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and his Turkish counterpart Rauf Denktash have both rejected the plan - though if the opinion polls prove correct, the latter leader's stance defies the wishes of his people.

The EU has attacked Mr Papadopoulos for urging his electorate to reject a plan which he appeared to have been backing until recently.

Guide to Cyprus Last divided capital

But Russia has come out in his favour, accusing the UN of granting too many concessions to the Turks.

Russia used its veto powers on the UN Security Council to block a proposal for a neutral force to help police the island, were it to be reunified.

The proposal's backers said it was intended to reassure Greek Cypriots that they would not face a threat from Turkish soldiers - but Russia argued it was an attempt to influence Saturday's vote.