Nine candidates vie to replace Denktash

Nine candidates have registered for the April 17 elections in the north to replace Rauf Denktash, ruler of the territory since 1975.

The candidate with the best prospects of winning is Mehmet Ali Talat, winner of the recent parliamentary elections, who is campaigning for an end to the partition of the island.

His closest rival is former prime minister Dervis Eroglu, a close Denktash aide who supports that the 35,000 Turkish occupation troops and twice as many settlers remain.

Not on the candidate list is Serdar Denktash, the son and foreign minister of the breakaway statelet in the north recognized only by Turkey.