Nicosia
The plight of a six-year-old boy whose life depends on finding a bone marrow donor has united the rival Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities of divided Cyprus.
Scores of Turkish Cypriots crossed into the UN-controlled buffer zone splitting the island to have their blood tested yesterday to determine if they can provide a transplant to save the life of Andreas Vassiliou, a Greek Cypriot boy who has leukemia.
''We came to give blood in the hope this will save the little boy,'' said Ali Mehmet, a Turkish Cypriot youth.
Medical staff set up an emergency centre at a UN barracks in the buffer zone to deal with prospective donors.
Cyprus has been divided into a Greek Cypriot south and a Turkish-occupied north since a 1974 Turkish invasion. The breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in the north of the island prevents free movement between the two sides, except in rare cases.
More than 50,000 Greek Cypriots have come forward since the boy's father made a plea for donation nine days ago, but no suitable donor has been found yet. Doctors say the chances of finding one are 30,000 to one.
The prospective donors included two political leaders, Serdar Denktash of the ruling Turkish Cypriot Democratic Party, and Mehemt Ali Talat of the opposition Republican Turkish Party.
''This is a humanitarian action, nothing to do with politics,'' said Denktash. His father, Rauf Denktash, is president of the breakaway north, and a hated figure to many Greek Cypriots.
''I am just trying to be helpful to a little human being,'' said Denktash as he rolled up his sleeve. ''A Turkish Cypriot boy is in a similar situation. We hope these kids get through this.''
Kemal Saracoglu, 13, has been in London since February, also waiting for a bone marrow transplant.
Emotions were charged when Denktash met Andreas's father, Vassos Vassiliou. With a quivering lower lip, Vassiliou grasped Denktash's hand, then gave him a bear hug.
''The Turkish Cypriots have seen my child as theirs. I just want to say thank you to all the Turks and Turkish Cypriots who have come for my baby,'' he said.
''The whole thing has been overwhelming,'' Vassiliou told reporters.-AP/Reuters
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