At least 2 police officers injured as blast hits Russia's Dagestan

At least two police officers were wounded as an explosion rocked the capital of Russia's volatile North Caucasus republic of Dagestan in the early hours of Friday, a police source said. The explosion occurred in Makhachkala's central Yaragsky Street soon after midnight (20:00 GMT), the source said. According to preliminary data, an explosive devise hidden in a bush went off when a police patrol car stopped nearby.A Dagestani Interior Ministry spokesman confirmed the report, adding that the two police officers had been admitted to hospital with light injuries. Russia has been battling a low-level Islamist insurgency in several North Caucasus republics. Dagestan, along with Ingushetia, has seen the brunt of the fighting in recent years.