An explosion in a crowded market place in the northern Caucasus city of Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia, Saturday left four people dead and around 20 injured, security officials said.
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 told AFP.
The officials said the blast could have been caused by a gas container, but refused to rule out a bomb attack.
Vladikavkaz was the scene of a market bombing in March 1999 that killed 64 people -- VLADIKAVKAZ, Russia, (AFP)
