NICOSIA, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus police investigating the murder of a prominent broadcaster and publisher have excluded political motivation behind the shooting.

    Andis Hadjicostis, managing director of Dias Media Group, which owns SIGMA, the second largest TV channel in Cyprus and a newspaper, was shot twice at point blank with a shotgun outside his home in Nicosia on Monday evening.

    The police are very near to obtaining evidence possibly leading to the killers, a police spokesman told a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, as the entire Greek Cypriot political leadership and politicians from Greece gathered in driving rain for his funeral service.

    The exclusion of political motives behind the killing has brought a sigh of relief to both politicians and the public opinion at a time when crucial talks are under way for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

    Suspicion that political motives had led to the murder was raised by some politicians, citing the fact that Dias had followed a hard line policy towards efforts for a Cyprus solution. Both the television channel and the newspaper owned by the group are siding with parties which voice criticism against the policies of Cyprus President and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias, claiming he is making concessions to the Turkish Cypriot side.

    The police spokesman refused to say what the motives for the murder might be.

    Police sources said investigators are closely examining computers taken from the dead man's office and home, concentrating on his financial dealings.

    The police spokesman also said investigators have questioned an officer of the Central Information Service who is said to have warned the victim his life was in danger but did not pass the information to his superiors.

    The officer was a friend of the deceased and had passed his warning about the threat to his life in what he described "a friendly context."