Love Bus to Take Passengers Across Divided Cyprus

Can Cat Stevens, the Muslim former pop star, and a "Love Bus" help reunite war-divided Cyprus? Greek and Turkish Cypriots, emboldened by the changing political climate on the island, think so.

In a novel step both Stevens and the Love Bus are being seconded to help heal the wounds that have kept the communities entrenched behind sandbags and barbed wire for the past 34 years.

Tomorrow, for the first time since Turkish troops invaded Cyprus following a coup aimed at uniting it with Greece, a bus emblazoned with red hearts and driven by a "peace-loving" Greek Cypriot will embark on an historic journey from the island's internationally recognized southern sector to its breakaway north.

Leontios Christou, the man behind the wheel, hopes that when the Love Bus crosses the island's UN-patrolled dead zone it will help inject a much-needed dose of trust between the two sides ahead of long-awaited reunification talks next month.

"The aim of the Love Bus is to bring our communities closer," said Christou, a professional bus driver who first conceived of the idea fifteen years ago.

"Back then the authorities were very negative and told me that until the Cyprus problem was solved no bus could cross the dead zone. But now I am very optimistic because things have changed. People are realizing how absurd it is that our little island is still divided when countries like Vietnam have been reunited."

For a fee of 35 euro, the Love Bus daily will transport locals and tourists from major cities in the south including Nicosia the capital, to historic sites in the Turkish-controlled north.

"On both sides there are people who have not seen parts of their country for a very long time, if at all. Our hope is that eventually Love Buses will also journey from north to south," he told the Guardian. "Even if there is just one passenger on board, the Love bus will operate."

With moderate leaders heading both communities, the prospect for peace on Cyprus has never looked as good. The new climate has spurred an internet campaign by a group of London-based Cypriots to woo the music star turned activist Yusuf Islam (aka Cat Stevens) to also perform for Cyprus with a "peace concert" in the dead zone.

Many believe the singer ? the son of a Cypriot who was born Steven Georgiou ? embodies the tolerance and empathy needed to put the island back together again.