January 15, 1957
CYPRIOT MILITANTS: London, 24 – A communique released by the British colonial secretary’s office claims that «almost half of the known leaders of the National Cypriot Fighters’ Organization (EOKA) were arrested during mopping-up operations around Mount Troodos between January 15 and 22. During that period two of the EOKA leaders were killed, including Markos Drakos, one of Colonel Grivas’s closest associates. Another 18 were arrested, including Argyris Karadimas, a Greek citizen believed to be Grivas’s second-in-command. Large quantities of weapons, ammunition and other ordnance were seized. The communique also claimed that «the latest attacks in Nicosia against Turkish police officers appear to have been aimed at transferring the British forces’ attention to the towns.» Greek stores in the Cypriot capital remained closed again today in a show of protest against the acts of vandalism by Turks over the past few days. In Limassol, merchants and workers declared a 24-hour strike to support the struggle for self-determination.The strike was followed by a demonstration in the main square where a few hundred people waved flags and sang the Greek national anthem.
