Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Cyprus parliament on Thursday as a crucial vote was being held on the government's planned sell-off of state utilities. Privatisation was mandated under an agreement which Cyprus signed with international lenders last year to secure a 10 billion euro ($13.7 billion) rescue package.
Opposition parties reject the bill and the government hopes its former coalition partner, the centre-right Diko, will vote in favour along with the ruling right-wing Disy. Together they would have a slim majority in the 56-seat house. Around 200 police in riot gear were lined up outside the parliament building in Nicosia, while protesters were kept at a distance and barricades put up. The vote and protest come during a week of strike action by utility workers at the island's ports, by the electricity authority and Cyprus telecoms.
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