Blast rocks Russia's North Caucasus, no casualties

A powerful blast was heard in Nalchik, the capital of Russia's North Caucasus republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, but no casualties were reported, a police source said on Friday.

A powerful blast was heard in Nalchik, the capital of Russia's North Caucasus republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, but no casualties were reported, a police source said on Friday.

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The explosion was heard at 23.58 local time (20:58 GMT) on Thursday.

"The blast occurred when a police car was passing by," the source said. "The explosive device was probably planted under a manhole cover."

According to preliminary reports, no one was injured.

While Chechnya, under the leadership of former separatist fighter-turned-Kremlin ally Ramzan Kadyrov, has seen a marked reduction in militant attacks in recent years, violence has erupted in the neighbouring republics of Ingushetia, Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria.