UN envoy hosts Cyprus leaders to restart failed peace talks

Rival leaders in divided Cyprus are attending a UN dinner in an attempt to restart failed peace talks.

It comes after Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades failed to reach an agreement during the latest unification negotiations at the beginning of November.

The meal, hosted by UN envoy Espen Barth Eide, will be the first time they have met face-to-face since the impasse.

It will take place inside the UN-controlled buffer zone separating the island's internationally recognised Greek Cypriot south and the Turkish Cypriot north breakaway.

Mr Eide said there was "a strong desire from both sides to return to the table and to move forward" to build on progress made during talks which have been taking place over the last 19 months.

But the UN envoy also expressed concern about a "deterioration of trust" and a "hardening of positions" among ordinary Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup by supporters of union with Greece.

After talks with both leaders, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said they can overcome their differences as long as they show "flexibility and creativity".

Meanwhile, almost 1,000 people in northern Cyprus have been protesting over its decision to abandon daylight saving time, blaming the move for a road crash on Tuesday in which a bus driver and two schoolgirls were killed.

Demonstrators gathered outside the prime minister's office in the northern part of divided Nicosia, calling for the Government to resign and chanting: "It's not possible to go to school in the dark!"

The decision comes after Turkey said it would not be turning its clocks back as of this winter, staying on summer time all year round.

Northern Cyprus, linked to Turkey through the banking sector, aviation, business and commerce, has followed suit - leaving the island with two different time zones in the winter months.