Akel questions Defence Minister over Kalo Chorio firing range fire

Kalo Chorio, Cyprus. Akel on Friday accused Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas of failing to establish the truth about a fire which broke out at a firing range near Kalo Chorio in Larnaca district on Monday.

Planned exercise

Akel said the detonation of ammunition which caused the fire was part of a planned exercise approved by the National Guard leadership and attended by American soldiers.

The party said the information raised questions over Palmas’ earlier statements and alleged that he had been “irreparably exposed”.

Questions over responsibility

Akel asked whether Palmas had consulted the military leadership before attributing responsibility to the 70th engineers’ battalion, or whether he had known about the exercise and publicly misrepresented the circumstances.

It also questioned whether the minister should have been informed about exercises involving foreign soldiers and who authorised ammunition detonations under conditions posing an increased fire risk.

Akel said Palmas had focused on protecting himself and the government rather than addressing the danger and damage faced by fire-affected communities. It called on him to accept responsibility.

Previous statements

It was reported on Thursday that American soldiers had taken part in Monday’s exercise and that the investigation had shifted from the 70th engineers’ battalion to the higher military chain of command.

On Monday, Palmas said those responsible had “names and surnames” and that responsibility lay with the 70th engineers’ battalion. He said no reasonable person would assign responsibility for the matter to the president or the defence minister.