Friday, January 11, 2008
Woman killed in explosion: Myanmar official (4:25 p.m.)
YANGON, Myanmar -- An explosion in the capital of military-ruled Myanmar killed one woman Friday morning, a government official said.
The official, who insisted on anonymity because he is not authorized to release information, said the explosion took place in a bathroom at the railway station in Naypyitaw at about 4:20 a.m.
He had no further details, and it was unclear whether the explosion was caused by a bomb. There were no immediate claims of responsibility, and the government has not blamed any group.
Terrorism is rare but not unknown in Myanmar, which has been under military rule almost continuously since 1962.
The country underwent extreme political turmoil in September last year, when the government crushed nonviolent, pro-democracy
demonstrations and detained thousands.
Naypyitaw is in a remote area 400 kilometers (250 miles) north of Yangon, the country's old capital and biggest city. It became the country's new administrative capital, and main military stronghold, in November 2005 and is well guarded.
The most deadly terrorist incident in recent years in Myanmar took place on May 7, 2005, when three bombs went off almost simultaneously at two upscale supermarkets and a convention center in Yangon. About two dozen people were killed and another 162 injured.
In that case, as well as several other smaller bombings, the government blamed political opponents and ethnic rebels, though no firm evidence was ever produced. Government opponents deny carrying out attacks on civilians. (AP) |
