Second bomb blast in Myanmar capital this month

Jun 24, 2011, 7:44 GMT

Yangon - A bomb exploded Friday in an empty house in Naypyitaw, Myanmar's capital, but no casualties were reported.

Officials in Naypyitaw, 350 kilometres north of Yangon, confirmed that the explosion occurred around 12:00 pm (0530 GMT) in a deserted building near Tha Pyay Gon Market.

It was the second explosion in Myanmar's capital this month.

On June 11, a bomb exploded in the men's a toilet at another market in the city. No one was injured in the blast.

Bombs are rare in Naypyitaw, which was designated Myanmar's new capital in 2005 by the then-ruling junta.

Myanmar strongman Senior General Than Shwe reportedly decided to move the capital from Yangon to Naypyitaw for security reasons, deeming the port city of Yangon too vulnerable to attack by sea.

The country was under military dictatorships from 1962 to 2010, and is now under the rule of a pro-military elected government following polls held on November 7.