””””NICOSIA, March 14 (Xinhuanet) -- With a 15-minute work stoppage, workers of
all the government-controlled trade unions in Cyprus Friday joined in an
international campaign against a possible US war on Iraq.
””””The work stoppage took place from 11:15 am to 11:30 am local time
(09:14-09:30 GMT).
””””Shops, factories, banks, schools and public offices came to a standstill when
thousands of employees stop work in solidarity with European Confederation
of Trade Unions which was supporting similaraction across the continent.
””””It was the largest show of defiance organized so far in the island in a
series of public protests against war.
””””The event was organized by the island's major and most influential trade
unions including: civil servant's union Pasydy, teachers' unions Poed, Oltek and
Oelmek, bank employees union Etyk as well as the island's two largest union
federations Sek and Peo.
””””In a joint press release, the trade unions said a war in Iraq would have
detrimental repercussions and cause pain and misfortune to the Iraqi people,
their neighboring countries and the international economy, including the Cyprus
economy.
””””"The war is not inevitable. It can be prevented if internation allaw and United
Nations principles are respected," the press release added.
””””Friday's mass action was part of a series of protests this week reflecting
the local opinion against a pending war.
””””Hundreds of Cypriot people are expected to march on the US Embassy in
Nicosia on Saturday to chant anti-war slogans against any possible US attack on
Iraq.
””””The march will be organized by a "Stop The War Alliance", which is made up
of various political and student groups.
””””On Thursday, the Cypriot Greens rallied outside parliament to protest against
war, proclaiming "silence is guilt" and calling on parliament members to take
an official position against the war and pass a motion at the House.
””””In protest against a possible US-led war on Iraq, the
Cypriot Greens also declined an invitation to attend a US-sponsored photographic
exhibition on the twin towers. Enditem
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