Greek Cypriots demolish city's dividing wall

NICOSIA, Cyprus - Greek Cypriots demolished a wall Friday along the boundary that for decades has split Europe's last divided capital, a dramatic and unannounced gesture that officials hope will promote reconciliation on the Mediterranean island.

The wall cuts across Ledra Street, which runs through the heart of the city's tourist area and is seen as the strongest symbol of the island's 32-year partition into a Greek Cypriot south and a Turkish Cypriot north.

Although five crossings have operated on the island since 2003, there are none in the city center.

Without prior announcement, a bulldozer began dismantling the wall late Thursday.

"This is a first positive step as a sign of goodwill on behalf of our side," government spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardis said.

Rasit Pertev, undersecretary of the Turkish Cypriot president's office, said the wall's demolition came as a surprise to Turkish Cypriot officials, according to Turkey's Anatolia news agency.