The body of former Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos was stolen Thursday from a cemetery near the Cypriot capital, Nicosia, police said Friday.

This file picture obtained from Cyprus information office shows the funeral of late Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos on Dec. 15, 2008. Papadopoulos' body was stolen from his grave at a cemetery near the Cypriot capital Nicosia on late Thursday or early Friday, police said on Dec. 11, 2009. (Xinhua/Cyprus Information Office)

Police said thieves dug up the grave of Papadopoulos at night and stole the casket and remains.

The motive behind the theft was unclear, police said.

Papadopoulos died of cancer exactly one year ago at the age of 74. A memorial service for him was scheduled for Saturday.

Papadopoulos was elected president in 2003, but failed in his bid for a second term in 2008, when he was defeated by current President Demetris Christofias.

This file picture taken on Dec. 16, 2006 shows the late Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos (C) together with people who lost their beloved ones during the 1974 war . Papadopoulos' body was stolen from his grave at a cemetery near the Cypriot capital Nicosia on late Thursday or early Friday, police said on Dec. 11, 2009. (Xinhua/Wang Qiang)

The former president led the Greek Cypriot community in April 2004 to reject a U.N. plan aimed at achieving Cyprus' reunification, initiated by then U.N. chief Kofi Annan.

By campaigning against the plan, Papadopoulos won many staunch supporters but also drew strong criticism as well.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey occupied the north of the island following a coup by a group of Greek officers who pushed for union with Greece.

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