The candidates competing in Cyprus' presidential run-off said Sunday's vote would determine the future of the debt-hit island state, according to a report of DPA. "Cyprus is at a crossroads and its citizens have to decide which direction it will take," said conservative Nicos Anastasiades of the Democratic rally party. Anastasiades is contesting the election against his left-wing rival, Stavros Malas of the Communist AKEL party. "The Cypriot people will be ... deciding the fate of Cyprus, not only based on the economy and our natural gas reserves, but what direction it will take in the future within a changing Europe," said Malas after casting his ballot. In the first round, 66-year-old Anastasiades won 45 per cent of the votes cast, just short of an outright victory, against 27 per cent for Malas, a former health minister. A total of 1,139 polling stations are operating in Cyprus and abroad, with polls closing at 6 pm (1600 GMT). There are approximately 545,000 registered voters.
