Livestock Farmers Block Rizoelia Roundabout in Protest

Traffic chaos is reported at the Rizoelia roundabout as livestock farmers have initiated an indefinite blockade, protesting the culling of animals due to foot-and-mouth disease. The decision follows an unsuccessful meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, Maria Panagiotou, in Nicosia.

Commuters are facing significant delays, with queues stretching for kilometers. Police are diverting traffic from the Athienou-Koshi exit for those traveling from Nicosia towards Larnaca and free Famagusta. Similar traffic arrangements are in place for the opposite direction.

The livestock farmers are determined to continue their protests until the culling of animals that are not positive for foot-and-mouth disease ceases, threatening to escalate measures and blockade the airport. On Thursday, they also blockaded the port of Larnaca for several hours.

The Director-General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Andreas Grigoriou, expressed concerns about the risk of spreading the virus due to the protests, calling on the protesters to end the gatherings.

Source: CNA