Cyprus parliament speaker, filmed on citizenship probe, to abstain from duties

Cyprus's parliamentary speaker, filmed in an undercover video on a controversial citizenship scheme, said on Tuesday he would abstain from his duties until an investigation was completed. Demetris Syllouris, who is the second-highest ranking official of Cyprus, made the announcement shortly after the government announced it was suspending a citizenship for investment programme - long panned by critics as open to abuse and fraught with weaknesses.

Syllouris said he would be abstaining from duties from Oct. 19. (Reporting By Michele Kambas)