Tensions were high at some Cypriot banks today as police and bank employees appealed for calm. Other people left banks disappointed saying they were not served. Bank employees restricted entries to two people at a time with only five people allowed inside the bank. Cypriot banks opened for the first day after two weeks and imposed strict bank controls on how much could be withdrawn in order to halt the flow of funds out of the country or create a bank run. Cypriots can only withdraw 300 euros a day, and cannot cash cheques. Banks were shut almost two weeks ago as the government negotiated a 10 billion euro ($13 billion) international bailout, the first in Europe's single currency zone to impose losses on bank depositors.
