Mr Anastasiades and Mr Malas, backed by the left-wing Akel party, will now contest the run-off vote.

BBC: Cyprus election: Anastasiades and Malas go to run-off

Akel has historically taken a moderate line on the island's future, and Turkish doves were dismayed by its refusal to endorse the plan.

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"This will strengthen our case in so far as GCSB remains a party to the proceedings, " William Akel, a lawyer for Mr Dotcom, said.

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According to the latest polls, his closest rival among the 10 other candidates is Mr Malas, who is backed by Akel, closely followed by Giorgos Lillikas, an independent.

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"He does not take no for an answer and the word impossible is not in his vocabulary, " says Akel Bitaji, chief commissioner of the Aqaba Special Economic Authority.

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