More than 500 UK Cypriots demonstrated outside the Turkish Embassy in central London on Saturday evening to mark 50 years since the invasion.

The lively rally, organised by the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, saw them calling for the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the island, for a free and united Cyprus, with peace and justice on the island.

Amid the flags and the banners, pictures of Cypriots missing since the summer of 1974 could also be seen.

A counter-rally had been organised by a Turkish Cypriot organisation, but was only attended by about 35 people, who were separated from the main group of protesters by two police vans.

Federation president Christos Karaolis said many young UK Cypriots had attended, and said the well-attended demonstration showed the Cypriot issue won’t be forgotten.

The federation also handed resolutions to the prime minister a d the Turkish Ambassador to London.

The resolution to Kier Starmer said that “with your distinguished background in human rights and your defense of international law against Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, I am certain that you understand how untenable Turkey’s continued occupation of Cyprus remains.

“The UK, under your Government, has the opportunity to be seen as a leading force in the restoration of the rules-based international order if you use your influence to urge Turkey to return to negotiations, within the agreed UN basis, so that talks can resume from where they stopped in Crans Montana in 2017,” it added.

In the letter to Turkey’s ambassador, the federation said that “there is no future for the illegal permanent partition of Cyprus – that Cypriots will always endeavour towards the freedom and reunification of their homeland.”