Turkish Cypriots on Monday protested the recently signed economic cooperation protocol with Turkey and price increases on petrol outside ‘parliament’ in the north.

Demonstrators read a petition which the members of the ‘parliament’ refused to accept.

The leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), Tufan Erhurman, attended the protest and spoke of an attempt by the Turkish Cypriot leadership to become authoritarian at the expense of society.

The 53-page protocol on financial support for the north from Turkey was branded a ‘betrayal’ and ‘surrender’ to Ankara by Turkish Cypriot labour unions. They spoke against its provisions for the privatisation of the ports, the abolition of collective labour agreements and reducing the rights of public servants.