World News from the BBC
The defence minister and the head of the army in Cyprus have both resigned after huge explosions at a munitions dump killed at least 12 people. The blasts at a Greek Cypriot naval base were
blamed on
a bush fire igniting containers of explosives that had been
confiscate
d from a ship in 2009. Tabitha Morgan reports from Cyprus.
The blast that destroyed both the navy base and much of the island's largest power station has proven to be a major blow to Cyprus's military in every way. The commander of the Cypriot navy and of the military base itself were killed in the explosion. The government
as a whole
will now come under intense pressure to explain why a vast
consignment
of explosives from a ship impounded en route to Syria from Iran has been left untouched for two years.
The first war crimes trial of a commander of Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army has opened in the northern town of Gulu. The middle-ranking commander Thomas Kwoyelo is being charged with 53 counts, including wilful killing and hostage-taking. Mr Kwoyelo is accused of leading raids on villages between 1992 and 2005, killing and
abduct
ing civilians. He denies the charges.
Workers from the world's biggest copper mining company Codelco in Chile have held their first strike in nearly 20 years. They are protesting against plans by the centre-right government of President Sebastian Pinera to cut jobs and benefits at the state-run company. Union leaders say they fear the plan could lead to the