NICOSIA -- UN Secretary General Kofi Annan wrapped up his peace push here Friday by giving Greek and Cypriot Turkish leaders a new "final" deadline of March 10 to agree on holding referendums on reunifying Cyprus.

Annan had originally set Friday as a deadline, but with no breakthrough on the blueprint he offered them in November, he changed tack by proposing to take his reunification plan for the divided island directly to the Cypriot people.

Greek Cypriot President-elect Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash have agreed to join him in The Hague on March 10 for a final meeting to keep the faltering process alive.

"The two leaders here have just told me they accept my invitation to come to The Hague on March 10," Annan told reporters after his one-hour meeting with the two leaders.

"I would expect them to arrive prepared there and then to tell me whether or not they will sign a commitment in The Hague to submit a foundation agreement to approval two separate, simultaneous referenda on March 30," Annan said, reading a brief statement.

The aim is to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem so a united island can sign an EU accession treaty on April 16 in Athens.

When the Cypriot leaders arrive at The Hague, Annan said he expects them to have "completed all necessary internal consultations" so that their response is "definite".

Observers say referendums were the only way of getting the UN out of a tight spot, as Annan realized he was getting nowhere with the leaders despite trips to Ankara, Athens and then Nicosia in efforts to broker a deal.

In fact, Denktash responded only grudgingly and is apparently opposed to the idea of holding referendums if there is no deal in advance.

He said Friday that putting to a referendum a UN plan to reunify Cyprus would not be "correct and democratic.

"Is it possible for the people to fully understand this complicated plan of so many pages, which makes references to laws and treaties? There are parties, the Parliament, the NGOS ... who could show a direction to the people," he told reporters.

"Now, pushing all these aside, you would leave the people to face a decision to say yes or no. This is not a correct approach, it is not democratic either," he added.

----------------------------- eaa0304 3 i 0677 cyp /afp-dt12 cyprus-un sched annan wraps up cyprus peace push with ultimatum to leaders by charlie charalambous = (pictures) = nicosia, feb 28 (afp) - un secretary general kofi annan wrapped up his peace push here friday by giving greek and cypriot turkish leaders a new "final" deadline of march 10 to agree on holding referendums on reunifying cyprus.

annan had originally set friday as a deadline, but with no breakthrough on the blueprint he offered them in november, he changed tack by proposing to take his reunification plan for the divided island directly to the cypriot people.

greek cypriot president-elect tassos papadopoulos and turkish cypriot leader rauf denktash have agreed to join him in the hague on march 10 for a final meeting to keep the faltering process alive.

"the two leaders here have just told me they accept my invitation to come to the hague on march 10," annan told reporters after his one-hour meeting with the two leaders.

"i would expect them to arrive prepared there and then to tell me whether or not they will sign a committment in the hague to submit a foundation agreement to approval two separate, simultaneous referenda on march 30," annan said, reading a brief statement.

the aim is to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the cyprus problem so a united island can sign an eu accession treaty on april 16 in athens.

when the cypriot leaders arrive at the hague, annan said he expects them to have "completed all necessary internal consultations" so that their response is "definite".

observers say referendums were the only way of getting the un out of a tight spot, as annan realised he was getting nowhere with the leaders despite trips to ankara, athens and then nicosia in efforts to broker a deal.

in fact, denktash responded only grudgingly and is apparently opposed to the idea of holding referendums if there is no deal in advance.

he said friday that putting to a referendum a un plan to reunify cyprus would not be "correct and democratic.

"is it possible for the people to fully understand this complicated plan of so many pages, which makes references to laws and treaties? there are parties, the parliament, the ngos ... who could show a direction to the people," he told reporters.

"now, pushing all these aside, you would leave the people to face a decision to say yes or no. this is not a correct approach, it is not democratic either," he added.

papadopoulos was keeping his cards close to his chest. asked whether going to the hague was a step towards holding a referendum rather than signing a deal he replied: "it's nothing, it's just an agreement to meet the secretary general."

the talks opened at 10:00 am (0800 gmt) at the un compound in the buffer zone between the greek and turkish sides of the island.

outgoing cypriot president glafcos clerides, who is to step down later friday, also attended.

on thursday, annan handed both leaders the latest draft of a un blueprint which aims to reunify the island in a loose swiss-style federation so a united cyprus can join the european union in 2004.

an accord would commit both sides to the constitutional changes required under the plan and bind the new state -- to be renamed the united cyprus republic -- to international law and treaties.

the united states and the eu both pressed the greek and turkish cypriot leaders to accept annan's reunification proposal and end the island's bitter 29-year division.

cyprus has been divided since 1974 when turkey invaded and occupied the north of the island, in response to a greek cypriot coup in nicosia aimed at uniting cyprus with greece.

mutual distrust has meant that every effort to bring the two sides back together since then has failed.

the eu has said that even without an accord it will accept the internationally recognised greek side of the island as a member.

denktash's turkish republic of northern cyprus is recognised only by ankara, which also wants to see the problem settled to enhance its chances of joining the eu.