An explosion in a crowded market place in the northern Caucasus city of Vladikavkaz, capital of the republic of North Ossetia, caused several dead and wounded Saturday.
The explosion occurred shortly before midday as the central square was crowded with weekend shoppers, and police and ambulances rushed to the spot, eye-witnesses said.
No figures for the number of casualties was immediately available, but it appeared certain there were dead and wounded, the witnesses said.
Vladikavkaz was the scene of a market bombing in March 1999 that killed 64 people.
However it could not be ruled out that the latest blast was the result of an accident -- AFP
