Family denies receiving ransom demand

[March 09, 2010]  NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) -- Cyprus' justice minister has ruled out a political motive for the bodysnatching of the island nation's former president Tassos Papadopoulos, saying that a ransom demand had been made -- but a spokesman for the family denies that any family member had received such a demand.

Minister Loucas Louca said Tuesday that Papadopoulos' family had received a demand for ransom for the return of the body, which was stolen from its grave on Nicosia's southern outskirts in December. But family spokesman Vassilis Palmas refuted Loucas' statement, telling The Associated Press that the family received no such demand.

A body discovered at a Nicosia cemetery Monday night has been confirmed by DNA testing to be that of Papadopoulos.

[Associated Press]

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