At least 10 people were feared dead after a huge explosion – thought to have been caused by a brush fire setting light to containers of gunpowder – tore through a Cypriot National Guard naval base today, the Defence Ministry said.

Around 10 people are feared dead following a massive explosion at a naval base in Cyprus today, a Defence Ministry spokeswoman said.

Cyprus authorities stepped up their search today for the 11th alleged member of a Russian spy ring who vanished after skipping bail, but police refused to answer questions about why the suspect was granted bail in the first place.

A Cyprus police spokesman confirmed that a body discovered in a Nicosia cemetery is the stolen corpse of ex-president Tassos Papadopoulos.

The body of former President Tassos Papadopoulos has been stolen from its grave, police in Cyprus said today.