Explosion in Minsk injures 50

Minsk/Moscow - A bomb injured up to 50 people in Belarus' capital Minsk a little after midnight (2100 GMT) on Friday during a concert celebrating Independence Day, officials said.

"There are a few severely injured, but no dead," Interior Minister Vladimir Naumov told Interfax news agency.

Some of the injured are being operated on in hospital. Witnesses saw nuts and bolts around the area of the explosion.

Investigators could not immediately determine the type of explosive that caused the blast.

Earlier Thursday a military parade was held to mark Belarus9 Independence Day in front of the Minsk City Hero obelisk at the center of the capital. (dpa)