Turkish Cypriots have initial agreement on coalition government

Officials from the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and the Democrat Party (DP) of the Turkish Northern Republic of Cyprus (TRNC) reached an initial agreement that is said to be finalized Tuesday, to renew their alliance in the new government. Mehmet Ali Talat of the CTP is to be nominated for TRNC Leadership in the April 17. presidential elections. Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktas, who has come up against much criticism for his stance on negotiating peace with the Greek Cypriots, will not run for re-election. Talat won 24 seats of the 50-member TRNC parliament on February 20, giving his party the lead in the polls ahead of the April election. Â