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Dozens believed to be dead after three Yangon bombings

Near simultaneous explosions at two busy supermarkets and a convention center in Myanmar's capital yesterday have left at least three people dead and more than a dozen others wounded, an official and witnesses said.

The cause of the blasts, which struck different sections of Yangon around 3pm, was not yet known.

Three people -- a Buddhist monk, a man and a woman -- were killed and many others wounded in one of the explosions at a convention center where a Thai trade fair was being held, a security official said on condition of anonymity.

The victims were from Myanmar, but some Thais were hurt when people stampeded to get out of the convention hall following the blast, the official added.

Witnesses said earlier that the explosion blew out windows as high as the second floor.

Separately, several people were seen leaving the scene of another explosion at a City Mart supermarket with blood on their faces, a witness said on condition of anonymity. The exterior of the store in northwestern Yangon was severely damaged, with large window panes shattered and appliances from the store's shelves scattered amid debris on the ground floor of the 11-story building.

Authorities blocked off the four main roads in the area, while riot police with batons and shields stood guard, telling residents to leave the area because of the threat of further explosions.

``We managed to escape, but some of my friends were hurt,'' a sales girl cried at the scene.

Residents said more than a dozen people had been hurt in that explosion.
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