Turkish Cypriot Government Quits

The Turkish Cypriot government stood down Friday after the prime minister was defeated in a party leadership election.



Premier Ozkan Yorgancioglu submitted the coalition government's resignation to President Mustafa Akinci after he was defeated in a vote on the leadership of the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces on June 14.



Yorgancioglu said he would quit as prime minister after losing the vote to former President Mehmet Ali Talat, who is not a member of parliament and so cannot hold government office. Yorgancioglu's government was formed in September 2013.



Akinci must now seek another candidate to stand as prime minister and establish a government. - Ankara