Anti-war protests in Nicosia over Cyprus' role in regional conflict

Anti-war demonstrations have been scheduled for Saturday in Nicosia, following a protest held on Thursday outside the Presidential Palace and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Organised by various groups including United For Palestine, BDS Cyprus, and Genocide Free Cyprus, the protests demand that the government cease all military and diplomatic cooperation with the US, Israel, and Greece. Participants specifically called for the removal of British military bases in Cyprus, arguing that their use by Western forces turns the island into a potential military target. Representatives such as Markos Economou stated that the conflict is driven by US strategic interests regarding global raw materials rather than individual political figures. The organisers are urging President Nikos Christodoulides and Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos to sever ties with the '2+1' alliance. The Saturday event is set to begin at 3:30 pm at the Pasydy offices before proceeding to the presidential palace. Protesters argue that the state’s current foreign policy fuels the militarisation of society. The demonstrations follow reports of recent regional military activity, including a drone strike near the Akrotiri air base.