Cyprus

Second day of Cyprus reunification talks

Talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders to negotiate an agreement to reunify Cyprus enter a second day today.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said after his last meeting with the two leaders in July that he expected them to reach agreement by October.

Both sides met as recently as last week in Nicosia but were reportedly still at odds with each other over key issues including what to do with private property lost during the war, territorial boundaries, details of a federal government and elections.

Cyprus was split into a Greek Cypriot south and a Turkish Cypriot north in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup by supporters with Greece.

British troops play a key role as UN peacekeepers, patrolling the green buffer zone set up when the island was split.

The island joined the European Union in 2004, but only the internationally-recognised south enjoys membership benefits.

The talks between the two leaders are taking place at the secluded Greentree estate in Manhasset, New York.