Death toll in Russia's terrorist bus blast rises to 12

Moscow, Nov 7 (UNI) The death toll in the terrorist bus blast in Vladikavkaz, the capital of Russia's Republic of North Ossetia, has risen to 12, including a female suicide bomber.

''As a result of the blast yesterday, twelve people were killed and 39 received injuries of varying degrees. A suspected suicide-bomber was identified among the dead,'' a local police source told RIA Novosti today.

The majority of the dead were reportedly students aged 17-18 years.

The explosive device was equivalent to 300-500 grams of TNT and stuffed with metal objects to increase its destructive force.

''Preliminary data indicates it was a plastic explosive,'' the source said.

North Ossetia has declared tomorrow as a day of mourning for those killed in the explosion.

North Ossetia is near the borders of Chechnya and Ingushetia, which have seen a marked increase in fighting between militants and federal troops this year. It is also where the Beslan school siege took place in 2004, killing scores of people.

Last month, the neighbouring breakaway Georgian Republic of South Ossetia was the focus of a five-day war between Russia and Georgia.

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