Livestock farmers shut the Rizoelia roundabout and briefly blocked Larnaca port on Thursday, causing widespread traffic disruption, as protests over the mass culling of animals during the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak escalated sharply.
Tensions flared when Justice Minister Costas Fytiris arrived at the scene and asked farmers to reopen a lane for safety reasons. Farmers responded by fully closing the upper section of the roundabout and blocking Larnaca port for a period.
Around 4 pm, farmers closed Rizoelia again, saying they had received no update on ongoing consultations with Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou. Tension mounted between farmers, police and passing drivers. Protesters threatened a citizen who asked to pass, brandishing sticks.
Some of the calmer protesters, responding to police appeals, attempted to let trapped drivers leave the roundabout, including those heading to Larnaca airport. Others disagreed and moved into the road to block them. “No one is getting through,” they shouted.
Some protesters responded to police appeals to reopen the road by threatening to return to Larnaca port. They also threatened to move to the airport, where arrivals of foreign heads of state are expected.
Earlier in the day, as a goodwill gesture, farmers had reopened the port and moved to Rizoelia to await the outcome of negotiations with the Agriculture Minister.
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