VLADIKAVKAZ, November 6 (RIA Novosti) - As many as 11 people were killed and 43 were injured on Thursday in an explosion at a bus stop in the center of the capital of Russia's North Caucasus republic of North Ossetia.
Police reports put the death toll at 11, while the republic's Health Ministry said 10 people died.
President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered an investigation into the blast, and Prosecutor General Yury Chaika has taken special control of the case.
A police source said the blast was probably caused by an explosive device set off outside a public minibus as passengers got off.
The North Ossetian president's press service said a suicide bomber could have detonated the device, which was equivalent to 300-500 grams (0.7-1.1 lbs) of TNT and stuffed with shrapnel to increase the killing power.
"Seven people died immediately, some died on the way to hospital, and some passed away in hospital," the police source said.
The chief doctor at the hospital treating the wounded said most of the casualties were students aged 17 or 18.
November 8 has been declared a day of mourning in North Ossetia for those killed in the explosion.
