Lawmakers in breakaway northern Cyprus voted Thursday to postpone a Turkish Cypriot leadership election scheduled for April 26 by six months because of the novel coronavirus.

The election will now be held on October 11, and dovish incumbent Mustafa Akinci will remain in office in a caretaker capacity until then.

Akinci is president of the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognised only by Ankara.

He is also leader of the island's minority community in on-off UN-backed reunification talks with Greek Cypriot leader and Republic of Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades.

Turkish Cypriot police stand guard outside a quarantined hotel near Famagusta on the island's east coast
Turkish Cypriot police stand guard outside a quarantined hotel near Famagusta on the island's east coast AFP / Birol BEBEK

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops occupied its northern third in response to an Athens-inspired coup in Nicosia seeking to unite the island with Greece.

On Thursday, Turkish Cypriot authorities closed all points of entry to non-residents in the latest of a raft of preventive measures against the coronavirus.

The number of COVID-19 cases in the Turkish Cypriot north has risen to 33, while the Republic of Cyprus has confirmed 67, making an island-wide total of 100.

No deaths have so far been reported.

Coronavirus