21.   Last month Amnesty International appealed to the Cypriot government to grant asylum to the immigrants, saying their lives might be at risk if they were repatriated.

22.   Meanwhile, the Cypriot government sent a protest letter to the United Nations, government spokesman Spyros Arotis said.

23.   No details were given and both the Cypriot government and Israeli ambassador declined comment on the reports.

24.   On the Greek Cypriot side of the island, Cypriot government spokesman Yannakis Cassoulides said he could not confirm the reported killing near Famagusta.

25.   On the Greek side of Nicosia, no Cypriot government spokesman could be reached for a reaction Tuesday.

26.   On the Greek Cypriot side of the island, Cypriot government spokesman Yannakis Cassoulides said he could not confirm the reported killing.

27.   On Thursday, the Cypriot government complained about alleged overflights by Turkish military planes.

28.   Tension has risen since the Cypriot government began negotiating its accession to the European Union in Brussels on Tuesday.

29.   Tension has risen since Tuesday when the Cypriot government began negotiating its admission to the European Union.

30.   The Cypriot government called it a friendly gesture related to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak coming to power last month.