The administration of Turkish-occupied.......>

CYPRUS: The administration of Turkish-occupied Northern Cyprus and the main

political parties there have agreed to the postponement of the presidential

elections, due to be held April 26. 

- New date to be announced later today.

- Election seen as the most important in years, with the gov't of Turkish Pres.

Erdogan supporting the main opposition candidate Ersin Tatar from the

nationalist UBP against moderate incumbent Mustafa Akinci.

- Akinci seen as more amenable to re-unification between the north and Republic

of Cyprus as well as a keen supporter of Turkish secularism, compared to Tatar

who is supportive of partition as well as Erdogan's less secular policy stance.

- The election, when held, will have major implications for the outlook for

Cyprus' gas production, given the massive reserves that sit off the Cypriot

coast. 

- Both candidates see Northern Cyprus gaining a share of the reserves as a

right, but a deterioration in relations with the Republic under a nationalist

administration in the north could make negotiations difficult.