on 2 july 1974, makarios wrote an open letter to president gizikis complaining bluntly that 'cadres of the greek military regime support and direct the activities of the 'eoka-b' terrorist organisation'. he also ordered that greece remove some 600 greek officers in the cypriot national guard from cyprus. the greek government's immediate reply was to order the go-ahead of the coup. on 15 july 1974 sections of the cypriot national guard, led by its greek officers, overthrew the government.