Greek, Turkish Cypriot Leaders Praise Mass Border Crossing
NICOSIA (AP)--Greek and Turkish Cypriot political leaders welcomed the crossing of tens of thousands of their people across the U.N. buffer zone that has divided the island for nearly 30 years. "We are trying to create a basis for peace," Turkish Cypriot [President] Rauf Denktash told the Turkish Anatolia news agency. "This coming and going is a good thing. The people should get to know each other."

But there was a sour note, with the attack Sunday on an elderly Turkish Cypriot couple by the current occupants of their former home in Limassol. One of three brothers involved in the attack was arrested, while police are considering charges against the other two.

"The state will not tolerate such unacceptable and dangerous conduct under any circumstance," Cypriot Interior Minister Doros Thedorou told reporters, adding the matter "will be dealt with immediately, sternly and mercilessly" in line with Cypriot law.

Denktash on April 23 lifted the ban on movement across the buffer zone that has split this Mediterranean island since the 1974 Turkish [intervention in] of the north prompted by an abortive coup by supporters of union with Greece.

More than 60,000 people from both sides have made crossings for day trips since Wednesday.

Many have visited their homes in the towns and villages they were forced to abandon and caught up with old friends from the other side for the first time since the [intervention of the Turkey in 1974 to save Turkish-Cypriots from a certain annihilation].

Many Greek Cypriots crossed into the north to celebrate the four-day Orthodox Easter holiday in their former churches.

Easter Sunday and Monday, Greek Cypriots crossing into the Turkish Cypriot quarter of Nicosia were greeted by local girls offering flowers and wishing them "Kalo Pascha" or "Happy Easter" in Greek.

On the other side, Turkish Cypriots were welcomed with gifts of colored eggs and "flaounes" - traditional Easter cheesecakes.

More than 25,000 Greek Cypriots - a record number - were expected to cross Monday, April 28. Many people waited overnight in a queue of cars stretching 16 kilometers from a checkpoint in southern Cyprus.

The crossing by Turkish Cypriots, which was also in thousands the first five days, dwindled to a few hundred on April 28, Monday, a working day for Muslims. Denktash invited Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos for a meeting to discuss easing the crossings. There was no immediate Greek Cypriot response.