Soccer row scuppers meeting of Cypriot leaders

NICOSIA, July 12 (Reuters) Plans for a meeting between Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders on ethnically-divided Cyprus were scuppered today after a row over a soccer match, officials said.

Aides to Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, who met aides to Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos today to finalise the first encounter between the two leaders in more than a year, said the meeting was off. It had been expected to take place this month.

''It is a very saddening affair to see that the Greek Cypriot administration could not even stand a friendly match between Turkish Cypriots and another team, and did their best at whatever level to stop this event,'' said Rasit Pertev, an aide to the Turkish Cypriot leader.

REUTERS AM RK2155