Christofias becomes first communist Cyprus president

By Michele Kambas

NICOSIA (Reuters) - Demetris Christofias, Soviet educated and with a penchant for Che Guevara t-shirts, made history on Sunday becoming Cyprus's first communist president.

A builder's son from a village now in Turkish held north Cyprus, Christofias, 62, portrays himself as a moderate who is best placed to revive reunification talks with Turkish Cypriots.

Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been separated since a Turkish invasion in 1974 triggered by a brief Greek-inspired coup. Christofias's Communist AKEL party has had traditionally good relations with Turkish Cypriots.

"We can find a common language of communication with Turkish Cypriots," said Christofias.

Created in 1926 as the Communist Party of Cyprus, AKEL, is the island's biggest party but had never before contested the presidency. It was instrumental in ensuring the election of five of the six presidents of the island post-independence in 1960.

Christofias backed incumbent Tassos Papadopoulos in 2003 but quit the governing alliance in July 2007, citing frustration at Papadopoulos's negotiation tactics on ending Cyprus's division.

Despite communism all but crumbling everywhere else in Europe, the AKEL headquarters still boast statues of Lenin and its members address one another as comrades.

AKEL swiftly punishes any dissent but also holds stakes in successful businesses ranging from printing works to crisp makers, and production of Zivania, a Cypriot spirit with fans on both sides of the divide.