Cyprus government ministers on Thrusday submitted their resignations to President Demetris Christofias, opening the way for a reshuffle in the aftermath of a massive blast almost three weeks ago that killed 13 people.

"President Christofias informed the members of the Council of Minister about his intention to make a broad reshuffle of the government and asked them to place their resignations at his disposal," government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said after an extraordinary meeting of the council.

Stefanou said the reshuffle will take place soon, after the president consults with leaders of political parties.

Christofias had made known his intention to reshuffle his government after facing unprecedented criticism for the handling of a confiscated cargo of Iranian explosives and munitions bound for Syria in 2009, which blew up on July 11 in a naval base in southern Cyprus.

The blast at the naval base where the explosives had been stored for nearly 30 months killed 13 people and destroyed a power station, reducing by 53 percent Cyprus' power generating capacity.

Christofias' junior coalition party the Democratic Party (DIKO) brought forward plans for the government reshuffle after instructing its three ministers in the government on Wednesday to submit their resignations.

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