MEMBERS of the UK press and public got to grips with the Cyprus property issue this week at a host of events aimed at setting the record straight on Cyprus.

Turkish Cypriot lobbyist group Embargoed gave its first seminar in London, opening up a hornets nest

Washington says it is ready to assist in any way to help bring the two sides tot he negotiations table and broker a solution.

The tripartite meeting among United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari, President Mehmet Ali Talat of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos in buffer zone in Lefkosa on Saturday bore several important decisions.

Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders will meet on Saturday in the presence of a United Nations envoy for the second time this week to explore ways of resuming stalled reunification talks, officials said on Friday.

Local elections were held in North Cyprus on Sunday, with some 150,000 eligible voters electing 28 mayors and members of municipal government bodies.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan offered his support for Turkey's action plan for Cyprus in a letter sent to Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.

The Cypriot president and the Turkish Cypriot leader have had their first meeting for more than two years - but it failed to break the ice.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn wants the EU to enter into free trade agreement with Northern Cyprus, Cypriot newspaper Alithia reads today.

The veteran Turkish Cypriot leader said on Friday that he would not be running as a candidate at the next presidential election after Turkish Cypriots cast 65 per cent of the vote in support of the U.N. plan for reunification of the island, despite his strong opposition to it.