Afzal Khan Resigns After Visiting Occupied Cyprus

Afzal Khan, the UK Trade Envoy to Turkey and Labour MP, has resigned following criticism over his visit to the occupied territories of Cyprus.

Downing Street confirmed Mr. Khan's resignation. He had been appointed to the position in January.

In his resignation letter, Mr. Khan stated that he was resigning to avoid distracting from the government's trade efforts, claiming his trip was private.

British media reported that Mr. Khan did not seek approval before the visit and was photographed with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar.

Sir Roger Gale, honorary president of the British all-party parliamentary group for Cyprus, called for his removal. Shadow Foreign Secretary Wendy Morton stated that the visit undermines the UK's credibility.

Government sources said pressure from MPs, the opposition, and the Cypriot community in London made the resignation inevitable.

Christos Karaolis, president of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, welcomed the resignation, calling the visit "highly inappropriate and unacceptable."