Cyprus President appoints four new Ministers after coalition collapses

Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos appointed four new Ministers Friday, following the resignation of members of his Cabinet after the three-party coalition collapsed when communist AKEL party General Secretary and House President Demetris Christofias announced he will run in the February 2008 presidential elections.

President Papadopoulos appointed career diplomat Erato Kozakou Markoulli as Minister of Foreign Affairs to replace close associate Yiorgos Lillykas.

Maria Malahtou Papalli is the new Minister of Communications and Works replacing Haris Thrassou, Costas Kadis takes over as Minister of Health from Haris Charalambous, and Christos Patsalides is the new Minister of the Interior replacing Neoclis Sylikiotis.

The new Ministers will be sworn in on Monday at a special ceremony at the Presidential Palace.

A row has already started with AKEL officials blaming Papadopoulos for the collapse of the coalition, at a time when he did not want to discuss Christofias’ candidacy.