Cyprus President Blamed for Deadly Blast

A public inquiry into a Cyprus munitions blast that killed 13 people and crippled the island's main power plant found Monday that President Demetris Christofias was responsible for the disaster.

The head of the inquiry, Polis Polyviou, handed over his findings -- which are not legally binding -- to the president and attorney general before giving a news conference.

"Unfortunately, based on the facts as shown by the testimony that came before me, I have no choice but to conclude that the president of the republic has serious institutional and personal responsibilities in relation to the matter," said Polyviou.

"My conclusion is that the main responsibility for the tragedy lies with the president."

Polyviou said Christofias's role in the deadly blast was "direct, specific, unambiguous and serious."

He told reporters the president had the "greatest responsibility" because he was in charge of a failed decision-making process that saw no measures taken to protect Cypriot citizens.

Christofias was accused of "unforgivable negligence" for allowing the munitions to be stored out in the open at a naval base on the island's south coast for two and a half years and taking no steps to avert the risks despite repeated warnings.

"It was a time bomb left at the naval base until it exploded," he said.

The lawyer said he was convinced Christofias was aware of the danger the deteriorating arms cache posed, but chose to keep 98 containers piled up at the base unprotected.

They were stored just 150 meters (yards) from the island's biggest power station.

The inquiry's hefty 650-page report argues that Christofias has no excuse to say he was not told of the dangers.

"The President of the Republic, even if his version is accepted, knew at least from September 2010 that the cargo was kept at a National Guard camp in a field exposed to weather phenomena especially in summer, increasing the danger that comes with the gunpowder deteriorating," said the report.

Christofias has yet to respond to the report, but his cabinet will hold an emergency meeting at 9:00 pm (1800 GMT) to discuss the matter.

Last month, the Greek Cypriot leader told the public inquiry he was never told of the risk posed by the arms cache.

"Saying 'I didn't know' is not enough," said Polyviou.

Christofias said that at no point was he informed of the risks posed by the containers of seized Iranian munitions stored out at the Mari naval base, even after officials met a week before the July 11 blast to discuss their deterioration in the scorching summer heat.

The defense and foreign ministers and the commander of the Greek Cypriot National Guard resigned over the blast. The deputy commander was sacked.

The containers had been at the base since their seizure in February 2009 when Cyprus intercepted a Cypriot-flagged freighter bound from Iran for Syria, under pressure from the United States and other Western governments.

Christofias said the decision to keep the weapons on the island was the "correct" one after a proposal for the United Nations to take responsibility for the cache did not materialize.

But Polyviou said the munitions were kept on the island to placate Syria and Iran in a risky diplomatic game which gave Cyprus no room for maneuver.

He said former foreign minister Marcos Kyprianou blocked the arrival of U.N. weapons inspectors who requested they be allowed to check the "actual state of the cargo."

"Within two minutes they would have realized the cargo was in a bad state," said Polyviou.

The arms were seized after a U.N. sanctions committee said the consignment contravened a ban on Iranian arms shipments.

Relatives of the victims have welcomed the hard-hitting report.

The munitions blast killed 13 service personnel and firefighters and knocked out the Mediterranean island's biggest power plant, leading to rolling daily power cuts, economic disruption and public uproar.