Cyprus foreign minister to quit over deadly blast

NICOSIA: Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou said on Monday he is resigning in the wake of a navy base munitions blast that claimed 13 lives and knocked out the island's biggest power plant.

Kyprianou told reporters after giving evidence to parliament that he will ask President Demetris Christofias to accept his resignation "not because there is a sense of guilt, but for reasons of political sensitivity."

Government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou confirmed Kyprianou had discussed his intention to quit with Christofias by telephone.

If Christofias accepts his resignation, Kyprianou will be the second minister to go since the July 11 explosion.

Leaked documents in the media indicate that at least five ministers knew the 98 shipping containers of munitions, piled up in the blazing sun at the base near Limassol, could explode. The government has said Christofias was never made aware of the risk.

Among those killed was the head of the Cyprus navy, Captain Andreas Ioannides, who was reported to have repeatedly denounced the situation. The blast also claimed six firemen and six other military personnel.

News of Kyprianou's resignation came as Christofias was briefing party leaders about the investigation and the impact on the island's economy of its largest power plant being offline. (AFP)