Cypriot MPs barred from entering Israel
Sun Apr 7, 8:44 AM ET

NICOSIA, Cyprus - Israel refused entry to a group of Cypriot legislators who wanted to deliver a message of solidarity to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, the legislators said Sunday.

"They stamped our passports 'denied entry' and kept us at the airport under police guard as if we were criminals," said Eleni Theocharous, one of the six members of parliament who flew to Israel on Saturday night.

The delegation, comprising of representatives of all parties in the Cypriot parliament, returned home on Sunday morning after being forced to spend the night at Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv.

In a unanimous vote last Thursday, the parliament accused Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinian people during its current military offensive in the Palestinian territories. The parliament also decided to dispatch a delegation to deliver a message of support to Arafat.

The delegation included Androul Vassiliou, the wife of former Cypriot President George Vassiliou.

In Jerusalem, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon confirmed that six Cypriot legislators were refused entry, but gave no reason.