LEFKOSA (A.A) - President Mehmet Ali Talat of the TurkishRepublic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Tuesday that he would run in thepresidential elections by the end of this week.Replying to a question, Talat said he was thinking of announcing hiscandidacy on Saturday however did not set a definite date.Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu, leader of the National Unity Party (UBP),earlier officially announced that he would run in the election.The presidential election will be held in the TRNC on April 18.TRNC Supreme Electoral Board announced a timetable for the upcomingelection.Accordingly, the election process will begin on February 24.Political parties will be given time till March 9 to name their candidates.The deadline for candidates to run in the election is set as March 12. The Boardwill officially announce the list of candidates on March 22.The presidential election will be held on April 18. If any candidate cannotreach the required threshold of 50 percent in the first round, the second roundof the election will be held on April 25 between the two candidates who receivedthe highest number of votes in the first round.Rauf Denktas was the first president of the TRNC which was established in1983. He remained at office from 1983 to 2005. He was replaced by Mehmet AliTalat during the 2005 election.(AY-CE)