A police officer has been wounded in an explosion in the capital of the Russian North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, police said.

"At about midnight, an explosive device detonated on the way of a police vehicle in Makhachkala. One police officer was wounded," a police spokesman said.

An investigation is underway.

Shootouts and attacks on troops, police and other officials have been reported daily in the mainly Muslim Caucasus republics of Dagestan, Ingushetia, and Chechnya.

MAKHACHKALA, December 29 (RIA Novosti)