Cyprus seeking US support on reunification talks

Cyprus is seeking U.S. support in talks on reunification of the ethnically divided island.

Cypriot Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou was discussing the newly restarted reunification talks Friday with U.S. officials, including Deputy U.S. Secretary of State John Negroponte.

Cyprus was split into an internationally recognized Greek Cypriot south and a breakaway Turkish Cypriot north in 1974. Turkey had invaded in response to a coup by people who wanted to unite the island with Greece.

Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders agreed last month to restart talks. The momentum followed the election of Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias in February.