Europe

Europe

Cyprus president formally apologizes for naval base blast

15 July 2011 21:22 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Cyprus President Demetris Christofias, facing intense public criticisms, on Friday formally apologized for a massive explosion at a naval base earlier this week which caused 13 deaths and damage amounting to at least four billion euros, APA reports siting Xinhua.

"The apologies on behalf of me and the government are granted," Christofias told reporters Friday.

Monday’s blast at a naval base on the south coast of Cyprus involved 98 containers packed with military explosives and munitions that were confiscated in February, 2009 and stored since then in an open space in the base.

Christofias waited three days before addressing the nation over the explosion, and came under fire for not apologizing.

The Cypriot president said a public inquiry into the blast he ordered on Thursday will include everybody involved, including himself.

However, commenting on publications of documents revealing negligence in the handling of the case, he said he opposed to trials by people’s courts.

"On behalf of the government, we assume responsibility accounted to us, however nobody has the right to set public courts, to judge and to convict people without an official trial," Christofias said.