'Ransom' motive for theft of Cyprus ex-leader's body

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The Strovolos cemetery where the body was discovered

A ransom was demanded for the return of the body of Cyprus ex-President Tassos Papadopoulos, which was stolen three months ago, a minister has said.

The body was found in a cemetery in Nicosia late on Monday after an anonymous tip-off. DNA tests confirmed it was that of Papadopoulos.

However, spokesmen for the Papadopoulos family have denied that any ransom demand was made to the family.

Police later said three men had been arrested in connection with the case.

Papadopoulos was president from 2003 to 2008. He died in December 2008.

'Broken Greek'

The BBC's Tabitha Morgan in Nicosia said Cypriots had been baffled by the crime, as there had been no apparent motive.

The finding of the body of our beloved Tassos has finally put an end to the ordeal Fotini Papadopoulos, widow

But Cyprus's justice minister later confirmed that a ransom had been demanded.

Loucas Louca would not say when the demand was made but stressed that no money had been handed over.

However, a Papadopoulos family spokesman, Chrysis Pantelides, quickly denied the family had received any demands.

He said: "We should all at this moment in time be acting responsibly, especially all those in authority."

Another family spokesman, Vassilis Palmas, told Associated Press that the family had received no demands.

Mr Pantelides had earlier told media that a caller speaking "broken Greek" had telephoned the family and had been redirected to the police.

Police have sealed off a telephone booth in a village south of Nicosia from where the tip-off was made.

Papadopoulos's widow, Fotini, said in a statement on Tuesday: "The finding of the body of our beloved Tassos has finally put an end to the ordeal which has overwhelmed us for the past three months and has restored calm to our family.

Tassos Papadopoulos was president from 2003 to 2008

"We hope that the police investigation will lead to the location of the culprits as soon as possible."

Papadopoulos's successor, President Demetris Christofias, expressed "relief and satisfaction" at the outcome.

The body will be returned to the family for a private reburial.

It was stolen on 11 December last year, one day before a memorial service was to be held to mark the first anniversary of Papadopoulos's death from lung cancer.

Police had described the theft as "deliberate and carefully planned", with a marble slab weighing 250kg (40st) lifted to dig up the grave.

Papadopoulos had a long political career after fighting British colonial rule in a guerrilla group.

He led Greek Cypriots in rejecting a UN plan to reunite the divided island.

Turkish Cypriots voted in a simultaneous referendum to back the plan, but it failed and the Greek sector later joined the EU.

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