Belarus leader: Subway bomb suspects confess

[April 13, 2011]  MINSK, Belarus (AP) -- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Wednesday two suspects have confessed to carrying out the deadly bombing of the subway system in the country's capital.

In a televised statement, Lukashenko said the suspects admitted taking part in the Minsk bombing, which killed 12 people and wounded some 200 on Monday.

The bomb exploded as people were coming off trains during the evening rush hour in the city's main subway station.

Lukashenko said, however, that he still does not know who ordered the bombing, and he asked the country's prosecutor general to interrogate opposition activists in connection with the blast "regardless of democracy, and cries and wailing of foreign sufferers."

He said opposition activists might know who "ordered the attack."

Deputy Prosecutor General Andrey Shved said earlier Wednesday that CCTV footage showed one of the two suspects leaving a bag in the Oktyabrskaya subway station in central Minsk and feeling around for something in his jacket pocket shortly before the explosion.

Authorities have said the bomb was radio-controlled. There has been no claim of responsibility for the blast.

Belarus observed a day of mourning for the victims on Wednesday.

[Associated Press]

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