PAPHOS, Cyprus — Canadian Press Published on Tuesday, Mar. 04, 2008 1:47PM EST Last updated on Monday, Mar. 30, 2009 3:09PM EDT
Police in Cyprus have accused a pair of Canadian soldiers of beating up a civilian resident of the Mediterranean island.
The soldiers who were in Cyprus for decompression after serving a tour in Afghanistan are accused of beating up James Sanford, a British resident of Paphos, Cyprus.
They soldiers were expected to appear in court on Tuesday.
Mr. Sanford, 32, was left with a dozen stitches and an eye swollen shut, according to the Cyprus Sunday Mail newspaper.
Mr. Sanford told the paper the confrontation started when the two men made advances on his wife.
“Two of them crossed the street to where we were, one put his hand around her and spat at her feet,” Mr. Sanford said.
Mr. Sanford reacted, an exchange of words followed, “and then one of the soldiers hit me on the head with a bottle,” Mr. Sanford told the Sunday Mail.
Police eventually appeared on the scene, and Mr. Sanford was taken to Paphos General Hospital for treatment.
“I have 12 stitches on my face and my left eye is swollen,” Mr. Sanford said.
“If my wife wasn't there to shout for help I don't know what could have happened to me.”
The soldiers were not identified and the Canadian military did not respond to the report on Tuesday morning.
Canadian soldiers routinely stop in Cyprus for decompression following service in Afghanistan.
The Cyprus paper says the incident is just the latest in a string involving foreign soldiers on leave on the Mediterranean island.
Parts of Cyprus are out of bounds to British soldiers after a series of incidents over the years.
About a dozen British soldiers have been implicated in brawls since last spring.
Join the Discussion: