Bethlehem exile is 'security headache'

Israel says Daoud is the most dangerous of the exiles

A Palestinian man exiled to Cyprus under a deal to end the siege of Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity is creating "problems" for the authorities, the Cypriot justice minister has said.

Minister Nicos Koshis said Abdullah Daoud was refusing to co-operate with the police and might have to be sent elsewhere.

He won't brief us on what he is doing and is causing problems

Justice Minister Nicos Koshis

The Phileftorheros newspaper reported on Tuesday that the Cypriot authorities were requesting Mr Daoud's immediate deportation over fears he could target Israeli interests and compromise Cyprus' national security.

Mr Daoud arrived in Cyprus on 10 May along with 12 other Palestinians, who were later dispersed to several other European countries.

Israel says Mr Daoud - who was head of the Palestinian Authority's intelligence unit in Bethlehem - is the most dangerous of the group which was sent into exile.

'Anxiety'

When no European country appeared willing to take Mr Daoud, Cyprus agreed to allow him to stay on the island for a "few days or weeks" until other arrangements were made.

We will caution him and tell him that he is not meeting the terms of his stay in Cyprus... but if he doesn't comply we need solutions

Nicos Koshis

Now, the Cypriots say he is turning into a security headache.

"He vanishes from where he is staying, he won't accept a police guard or escort. He won't brief us on what he is doing and is causing problems," Mr Koshis said.

"We will caution him and tell him that he is not meeting the terms of his stay in Cyprus... but if he doesn't comply we need solutions."

Cypriot officials are reported to be working with the European Union on the issue.

A Palestinian diplomat in Nicosia told Reuters news agency that the uncertainty was worrying Mr Daoud.

"A few days is turning into a few months. This would cause some anxiety for the person concerned," the diplomat was quoted as saying.

Cyprus offered to accept the 13 Palestinian militants temporarily to save a deal brokered by the US and EU to lift the Israeli siege of the Church of the Nativity, which began in April when some 200 Palestinians took refuge there.