Cypriot defence minister resigns after blast kills 12
yprus's government spokesman says the country's Defence Minister and the head of the National Guard have resigned over a deadly explosion at a naval base that killed 12 people and injured more than 60.
(AP) — Cyprus's government spokesman says the country's Defence Minister and the head of the National Guard have resigned over a deadly explosion at a naval base that killed 12 people and injured more than 60.
Monday's explosion at the National Guard's Evangelos Florakis Naval Base on the Mediterranean island's southern coast occurred when a brush fire set off containers of gunpowder that had been confiscated from a ship two years ago.
Government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said Defence Minister Costas Papacostas resigned, as did the National Guard Chief, Petros Tsalikides. He said investigators have ruled out sabotage.
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