Cyprus poll shows shrinking lead for Papadopoulos

NICOSIA, July 29 (Reuters) Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos is still voters' favourite choice for next year's elections but his former Communist coalition partners are rapidly gaining ground, a poll showed today.

Papadopoulos, who is seeking a second five-year term, is in the lead with 28 percent - 3.2 points down on a poll in June, the Noverna survey published in the Politis daily said.

He was followed by independent Ioannis Kassoulides, who is supported by the right-wing Democratic Rally party, with 26.8 per cent, a 0.6 point increase from last month.

Demetris Christofias, head of the Communist AKEL party, saw his support rise 3.3 points to 26.5 per cent.

Christofias quit the ruling centre-left coalition last month, expressing disagreement with Papadopoulos's tactics in trying to get a settlement to the division of Cyprus, split since 1974.

Presidential elections are due in February 2008. The vote goes into a runoff if a candidate fails to get a clear majority in the first round.

The Noverna poll, carried out from July 17 to 23 covering 600 respondents, showed that 18.1 per cent of the population were undecided.

Papadopoulos, 73, in 2004 led his Greek Cypriot community into rejecting a United Nations reunification plan for Cyprus, split since Turkey invaded its north in 1974 after a brief Greek-inspired coup. Peace talks have been at a standstill since.

REUTERS SM BST1748