Mackay crossed Cyprus border to ask for Nadir

LORD MACKAY of Clashfern, the Lord Chancellor, crossed the green line partitioning Cyprus for a meeting with Rauf Denktash, the Turkish Cypriot leader, to ask for the return of Asil Nadir, the fugitive businessman, writes Andrew Gliniecki.

The Foreign Office confirmed last night that the meeting took place in northern Cyprus on Thursday, saying Lord Mackay was 'reinforcing' a request for Mr Nadir's return made the day before by David Dain, the British High Commissioner in Nicosia.

Lord Mackay was in Cyprus by chance when Mr Nadir disappeared from Britain while on bail awaiting trial. The Lord Chancellor was attending a Commonwealth lawyers' conference. A spokesman for his office said last night that the meeting with Mr Denktash had been arranged months ago to discuss other matters.