CYPRUS CONFLICT INTENSIFIED

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33290, 30 July 1973, Page 13

CYPRUS CONFLICT INTENSIFIED

■ .V.Z.P.zI.-kcwrcr — Copyright) NICOSIA. July 29. Bombs shattered a key police station and a petrol station in the Cyprus capital today, in the mounting offensive by supporters of the former Eoka guerrilla leader. General George Grivas, against the Government of President Makarios.

The bomb blasts echoed across the city as the police continued their search for the kidnapped Minister of Justice (Mr Christos Vakis), whose disappearance Archbishop Makarios has blamed on General Grivas. Mr Vakis was seized by masked gunmen at his home on Friday night, an act which escalated dramatically the conflict between General Grivas and President Makarios over the future of Cyprus. The Archbishop last night appealed to his former ally to free Mr Vakis, and warned him: “The people will never submit to these terrorist methods.” In a clear challenge to the underground leader, Archbishop Makarios declared: “The Government is resolved to strike at the monster of terrorism.”

Three bombs shattered the Larnaca Road police station, one of the city’s main suburban police offices, just before

idawn, but a telephone call i had given notice of the blast, [the building was empty, and I there were no casualties; nor iwas anyone hurt in the blast at a nearby petrol station. Political observers speak of two main issues which they think the Grivas groups, campaigning for a union of Cyprus with Greece, might attempt to exploit, using Mr Vakis as hostage; one, that they may offer his freedom in return for the release of several dozen political prisoners being held on charges of conspiracy to overthrow ; President Makarios’s Government; the second, that Mr I Vakis could be used as a [pawn in a bid to stop the process by which three senior bishops who have allied themselves with General Grivas are being dispossessed of their ecclesiastical authority. President Makarios’s righthand man in Church matters.

the Suffragen Bishop Chrysostomos of Constantia was appointed by a panel of lavmen and clergy yesterday to replace Bishop Yennadios. of Paphos, who was expelled from his See bv angry worshippers when he led a challenge to President Makarios last year. Bishop Chrysostomos is due to be enthroned today with traditional splendour in Paphos itself, but there is speculation that General Grivas may use Mr Vakis as a hostage to stop the proceedings.