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Cyprus, naval base blast, protest

A few protesters remain after Friday's demonstrations (Photo: Patrick Dewhurst)

AROUND 1,000 people peacefully demonstrated at the Presidential Palace in what constitutes the fifth night of protest against the government.

The protests have come after the devastating blast in Evangelos Florakis naval base in Mari which killed 13 and knocked out the island’s main power station.

“Down with Christofias' Junta,” chanted demonstrators turning on its head Christofias’ reference in his Thursday speech of memories of the traumatic events when the palace was destroyed by the Greek Junta and EOKA B.

A picture of President Demetris Christofias was put next to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for whom an arrest warrant is pending for crimes against humanity and Hosni Mubarak - the former Egyptian president forced to quit in February after Egyptians took to the street against him.

“Christofias in jail,”  “Christofias quit, along with your ministers,” other chants went.

Wreaths of the sailors and firefighters who died battling the blaze were put on the palace’s rails and angry people chanted, “Christofias, imagine if they were your own children.”

The demonstration featured for another night a makeshift platform for people to voice their opinion.

The numbers were significantly lower than Thursday night when well over 10,000 attended probably the biggest demonstration the island has seen.

The Presidential Palace’s entry and exit points were blocked by the police rapid reaction unit MMAD and police supervised all roads leading to the palace.

Police presence remained discreet and no troubles ensued.