Livestock farmers from across Cyprus are gathering at Rizoelia roundabout in Larnaca on Thursday at 11am to protest the ongoing mass culling of animals due to the foot and mouth outbreak, while the police will be present to ensure the demonstration does not affect the arrivals of EU leaders for the informal council in Ayia Napa.

Spokeswoman for the farmers Stella Petrou told state TV on Thursday that if President Nikos Christodoulides did not intervene by 2pm, further measures would be announced.

Petrou spoke of a clause in the EU regulation that said massive culling was not necessary if the animals were vaccinated.

During the demonstration, farmers will partly close the Rizoelia roundabout, demanding the termination of mass culling at those farms with just a few incidences.

The farmers will be closing one lane in each direction and traffic will be channelled to the other lane.

“Our aim is not to inconvenience the public,” Petrou said.

Meanwhile, police spokesman Vyron Vyronos said measures have already been taken to ensure a smooth protest and for EU presidency activities, namely the informal EU council, to continue unhindered.

Vyronos said the police were ready to handle the situation and would intervene immediately if the informal EU council set for Thursday afternoon in Ayia Napa was affected in any way.

EU heads of state and government start arriving on Thursday morning and “all necessary measures will be taken so that there are not problems with traffic or the presidency’s meetings,” he added.