20 arrested in base blast protest
Twenty people were arrested by police in Cyprus after protesters angry at a blast which killed 12 people tried to breach gates leading to the island’s presidential palace in the capital, Nicosia.
Police said the arrests were made late yesterday during a protest at what demonstrators said was official negligence over the explosion of seized gunpowder stored at a naval base.
Police said protesters hurled rocks, flares and Molotov cocktails at riot police, who responded with tear gas.
Five police officers were slightly injured.
Meanwhile, funeral services for eight of the 12 dead who included the island’s navy chief were being held today.
Monday’s blast also wrecked a key power plant and forced the resignations of the defence minister and the military chief.
