Cyprus delays bank-deposit levy vote to tomorrow

on 18/03/2013 11:37:41

The parliamentary vote on Cyprus's controversial bank-deposit levy is to be postponed, state media say.

A Cypriot official said the vote on the deposit levy will now take place tomorrow at 6pm local time (4pm Irish time).

Earlier, it emerged that Cyprus' president is trying to amend a key condition of a draconian eurozone bailout plan that would tax deposits in the country's banks to reduce its effect on small savers.

But in a nationally-televised speech, President Nicos Anastasiades also urged MPs to approve the tax in a vote today, saying it was essential to save the country from bankruptcy.