Livestock farmers blocking the Rizoelia roundabout have vowed to stay put after their representatives reported from Nicosia that demands raised with Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou were not accepted and will instead be examined on Monday.
Farmers’ representatives informed protesters from Nicosia that demands raised with Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou were not accepted and will most likely be examined on Monday. They also conveyed the government’s appeal for farmers to leave the road until their demands are reviewed.
Shortly before 8 pm, farmers held a meeting and decided to spend the night at the site. The protesters are not backing down.
Fresh tension flared when farmers opened the road to let an ambulance through, only to find it was followed by two private cars.
A small group of protesters verbally abused journalists at the scene and demanded they leave the area.
Protesters said they will not leave Rizoelia until their demands are addressed. Some told philenews the next step will be to close Larnaca port, while others said they intend to block Larnaca airport.
The Larnaca police chief, Ioannis Kapnoulas, is at the scene and has asked farmers to end their protest and reopen the road.
Some told philenews the next step will be to close Larnaca port, while others said they intend to block Larnaca airport.
Protesters pitched tents and they have lit barbecues at the roundabout and are expected to announce their next steps shortly.
The standoff escalated earlier on Thursday when Justice Minister Costas Fytiris arrived at the scene and asked farmers to reopen a lane for safety reasons.
Farmers responded by fully closing the upper section of the roundabout and blocking Larnaca port for a period. Talks with the Agriculture Minister were subsequently suspended after fresh closures trapped drivers at the junction.
During the protest, some trapped passengers abandoned their vehicles and crossed the roundabout on foot. In one instance, a father carrying an infant walked through the area towards Larnaca.
A ten-year-old boy stranded in traffic pulled out his saxophone and began practising in the road after realising he would miss his lesson in Larnaca.
The protests centre on the mass culling of livestock ordered to contain the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
Police have directed drivers to use alternative routes, advising those travelling from Larnaca to Nicosia to use the Kalo Chorio roundabout towards Kofinou, and those heading to Famagusta to use the Avdellero and Oroklini exits.