The body of the former Greek Cypriot president Tassos Papadopoulos was stolen from his grave on Friday, national television reported.

Thieves broke into the grave and took the body just a day before the first anniversary of ex-president's death. However, Saturday's service at the church of St. Nicholas in Deftera is still expected to go ahead.

No one has yet claimed the responsibility. The motive is also unknown.

Marios Garoyan, the current leader of Papadopoulos's center-right DIKO party, condemned the crime as "heinous and terrible."

Papadopoulos died of lung cancer in Nicosia in 2008 at the age of 74. He served as president from 2003 until February 2008, when he lost his bid for reelection. He oversaw the Republic of Cyprus's entry into the European Union in 2004.

His funeral in December 2008 was attended by thousands of mourners, including the Greek prime minister and foreign minister.

ATHENS, December 11 (RIA Novosti)