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World

Breakaway Turkish Cypriots vote for new leader ahead of expected restart of Cyprus peace talks

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    Turkish Cypriot leader and leadership candidate, Dervis Eroglu, speaks is seen through Turkish flags and candidate banners during a rally in Nicosia at the Turkish Cypriot north part of the island of Cyprus, Friday, April 17, 2015. Breakaway Turkish Cypriots will cast their ballots this Sunday April 19, or a new leader who will have little time to settle in before jumping into another round of talks aimed at reunifying ethnically split Cyprus. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) (The Associated Press)

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    Turkish Cypriot leadership candidate, Sibel Siber, waves to supporters as she speaks during a rally in Nicosia at the Turkish Cypriot north part of the island of Cyprus, Friday, April 17, 2015. Breakaway Turkish Cypriots will cast their ballots this Sunday April 19, for a new leader who will have little time to settle in before jumping into another round of talks aimed at reunifying ethnically split Cyprus. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) (The Associated Press)

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    A baby with father is seen behind a flag with Turkish Cypriot leadership candidate Sibel Siber during a rally in Nicosia at the Turkish Cypriot north part of the island of Cyprus, Friday, April 17, 2015. Breakaway Turkish Cypriots will cast their ballots this Sunday April 19, for a new leader who will have little time to settle in before jumping into another round of talks aimed at reunifying ethnically split Cyprus. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) (The Associated Press)

NICOSIA, Cyprus – Turkish Cypriots are electing a new leader for the breakaway north of Cyprus in an unpredictable contest as talks to reunify the ethnically split island are expected to resume next month.

Some 177,000 residents are eligible to vote Sunday for seven candidates, including hard-line incumbent Dervis Eroglu and main challengers Sibel Siber and Mustafa Akinci.

Turkish Cypriot official Mustafa Erulgen said polls have opened and voting is proceeding smoothly.

Results are expected Sunday night and trigger a likely runoff election next week, if no candidate receives enough votes to win outright on the first ballot.

The elections will decide who sits opposite Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades in talks to reunify the Mediterranean island, split in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup by supporters of union with Greece.