11:54pm UK, Saturday April 24, 2004

Greek Cypriots have voted overwhelmingly to kill a United Nations plan that would have ended 30 years of partition.

Plans for a united Cyprus as the country prepares to enter the European Union on May 1 have effectively been scuppered.

Three-quarters of Greek Cypriots said 'no'

Greek Cypriots voted 75% against reunification, while Turkish Cypriots voted 65% in favour.

The UN sent the plan to separate simultaneous referendums on the Greek and Turkish sides of Cyprus on April 24.

Rejection by one side means the plan is null and void and only the Greek Cypriot part of the island will join the EU.

Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos, who had urged voters to reject the proposal, said his government would continue to work towards a settlement of the Cyprus problem.

But Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said rejection meant partition of Cyprus was now "permanent".

Turkey's 30,000-strong troops in Cyprus will remain.

The presidency of the European Union said it regretted Cyprus will still be a divided country when it joins the EU next week.

"We regret that a united Cyprus will not join the EU as had been hoped," said Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, at the helm of the EU's rotating presidency.

The UN also said it regretted the decision and announced it was closing its peace envoy office in Cyprus.