Minister in Russia's Dagestan wounded in car bombing

A minister of Russia's North Caucasus republic of Dagestan was wounded by a car bombing on Saturday, said the republic's Interior Ministry.

Dagestan's Minister of National Policy, Foreign Relations and Information Bekmurza Bekmurzayev was wounded when his car exploded at 08:50 a.m. Moscow time (0450 GMT) in the regional capital of Makhchkala. His driver was killed and the minister's bodyguard also wounded in the bombing.

Preliminary investigation indicated that the explosive device was placed beneath the car.

This has not been the first time for the minister in charge of national policy, foreign relations and information of Dagestan to suffer from attacks. Two former ministers have been killed in 2003 and 2005.