Socialist party EDEK has withdrawn from the ruling government coalition it shared with centre-right party DIKO and communist party AKEL

JSC LTB Bank of Latvia is to open a branch in Cyprus, said the bank.

"JSC LTB Bank of Latvia, member state of the European Union, has exercised its right of the freedom of establishment, and shall provide services in Cyprus," the bank's management said in a statement.

President Demetris Christofias did not rule out the possibility of EDEK withdrawing from the ruling coalition of AKEL, DIKO and EDEK, saying that if this happens, he will respect the

Turkish-Cypriot 'prime minister' Dervis Eroglu today issued an ultimatum in a statement saying that 'either there will be a settlement or we will evaluate the steps to be taken with motherland Turkey.'