National guard, police deployed to protect vets in foot-and-mouth crisis

Cyprus has deployed the National Guard and police to protect veterinary officers carrying out animal culls after staff were subjected to verbal and physical violence at farms in Kofinou and Pachna, as the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak continues to exact a heavy toll on the island’s livestock.

Yesterday’s coordination began with an expanded session at the Ministry of Defence, followed by a meeting at Veterinary Services headquarters with Police and National Guard representatives to settle...