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Belarus Leader Wants Political Opponents Questioned About Bombing


People react as they stand at an entrance to the Oktyabrskaya subway station in Minsk, Belarus, April 13, 2011
People react as they stand at an entrance to the Oktyabrskaya subway station in Minsk, Belarus, April 13, 2011

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said Wednesday his political opponents should be questioned over a deadly blast in the Minsk subway that killed 12 people and wounded more than 200 others.

Lukashenko said two men detained late Tuesday had confessed to the blast, but it was unclear who was behind the attack. One of those detained is said to be a Belarusian citizen.

Officials say one of the men was spotted on surveillance video placing a bag in the station where the blast occurred.

Word of the arrest comes as Belarus observes a day of mourning Wednesday for all the victims of the subway attack.

Officials say the bomb, which was packed with small pieces of metal to cause maximum casualties, was likely detonated by a radio remote control.

Monday's bombing came at the heart of the afternoon rush hour in a major Minsk subway station about 100 meters from the presidential palace.

Lukashenko has said he suspects outside forces looking to undermine Belarusian security were behind the blast. Lukashenko said a similar bombing occurred at a rock concert in Belarus in 2008.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

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