NICOSIA (Reuters) - Turkish Cypriot soccer players have stripped off to protest against a 50-year ban from international tournaments resulting from their island's partition.
A dozen players, their modesty covered by a banner reading "Balls to Embargoes", launched a media campaign on Thursday to highlight the decades-old political and economic isolation of northern Cyprus, a breakaway statelet recognised only by Turkey.
Teams from the internationally recognised Greek south of the island represent Cyprus in all international fixtures.
Organisers of the protest said they planned to distribute posters in Cyprus and Britain, the island's former colonial power and home to a large Cypriot community.
"A lot of people I know can't set up businesses, trade or travel," said Huseyin Caglayan, a British-based fashion designer who is leading the campaign.
"We can't compete in international football or under the Olympic flag. We can't even play in friendlies."
Turkey invaded northern Cyprus in 1974 after a brief Greek Cypriot coup backed by the military junta then ruling Greece.
Repeated attempts by the United Nations to broker a peace settlement have failed and the two ethnic communities still live estranged, despite a recent relaxation of travel restrictions.
The campaign to end isolation adopted a humorous approach in order to get people to take notice of a serious issue, said London-based campaign organiser Ipek Ozerim.
"Some said it might be risky, but I'm sure at least the women will love it," she said.
