Anastasiades, Malas to contest Cyprus presidential election run-off

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, supported by right-wing party Democratic Rally, and communist AKEL-backed Stavros Malas will contest the run-off of the presidential election on the island, after the first round on Sunday showed Malas performing better than expected.

With 100 percent of the votes counted across the Republic of Cyprus, Anastasiades garnered 35.5 percent, Malas collected 30.24 percent, centrist DIKO president Nikolas Papadopoulos took 25.74 percent, far-right candidate Christos Christou had 5.65 percent and center-left Citizens' Alliance president Giorgos Lillikas got 2.18 percent.

The second round of the election is scheduled for next Sunday, February 4.

Anastasiades, in a somber mood, thanked voters for "the strong mandate they have given me", and that "I am ready for a government of wider acceptance. We need to find a way to ensure...