NICOSIA (Reuters) – Cyprus runs the risk of desertification by the end of this century as it feels the brunt of climate change and drought, an expert warned yesterday. Studies project a rise in summer temperatures on the east Mediterranean island of between two and four degrees this century, compared to the 1960 to 1990 reference periods, Professor Manfred Lange, a geophysicist, said in an interview. “I think that there is a very definite potential for dramatically increasing desertification,” said Lange, director of the Energy, Environment and Water Research Center at the nonprofit Cyprus Institute. By the end of this century, Cyprus can expect an extra two months of days with temperatures exceeding 35 degrees centigrade (95 fahrenheit) on top of the present summer months of June, July and August, Lange said. “Cyprus will in fact become more like Abu Dhabi or other states that we know because there is just not enough water,” he said.

ANKARA (AFP) – A Turkish prosecutor yesterday launched an investigation into an Internet petition that apologizes to Armenians for the World War I massacres of their kinsmen, the Anatolia news agency reported. The probe was launched after several Ankara residents filed a complaint asking for the organizers and signatories to be punished for “openly denigrating the Turkish nation,” an offense that carries two years in prison, the report said. Should the prosecutor decide to bring formal charges at the end of the investigation, he will have to seek approval from the justice minister. The petition, drafted by a group of university professors and put online on December 15, states that the signatory “does not accept... the denial of the Great Catastrophe that the Ottoman Armenians were subjected to in 1915.” It ends with an offer of apologies.

TIRANA (AFP) – One of 10 Albanian guerrillas suspected of kidnapping scores of Serbs and killing at least 51 people shortly after the 1998-1999 Kosovo conflict has been released on bail, an official said yesterday. Muhamed Nuhiu was released after paying a 7,000-euro (9,600-dollar) bail, local prosecutor Mesud Mahmuti told AFP, adding that he was suspected of possessing illegal arms and explosives and not war crimes like the others. “Nuhiu is not accused of the same crimes as the nine others...” he said. The so-called Group of Gnjilane is believed to have kidnapped 159 Serb civilians and killed at least 51 people between June and October 1999, a statement from the office of prosecutor Vladimir Vukcevic said.

Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said yesterday he believed a veto blocking the progress of Croatia’s EU accession talks would be lifted in time for Zagreb to wrap up the talks by the end of this year. “Of course, Slovenia’s veto slowed us down... However, I believe the issue will be resolved in the next weeks and months and that we will be able to complete accession talks this year,” state news agency Hina quoted Sanader as saying. Last month Slovenia blocked the progress of Croatia’s EU accession talks by imposing a veto on opening and concluding a number of negotiating chapters. (Reuters)

A Croatian police officer committed suicide after he hit a 16-year-old girl with his car while driving under the influence of alcohol, police said yesterday. The girl sustained minor injuries in the accident which happened late Thursday in Dugo Selo, just outside Zagreb, the police said. After the accident the officer, who was off duty, was taken to a police station where a breath test showed that he had been drinking. He asked to go to a toilet where he shot himself. (AFP)

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) has reduced the minimum turnout needed for a presidential election to be valid to 40 percent, two months ahead of the country’s next vote. All 86 lawmakers present voted for a constitutional amendment lowering the minimum turnout from 50 percent. (AP)