Blast hits Georgian–South Ossetian border

There has been a powerful blast on the Georgian side of the border with South Ossetia, according to reports coming in from Russia's Interfax news agency.

“Today at 5:55 p.m., there was a strong explosion near the Georgian village of Mereti,” South Ossetian Deputy Defense Minister Ibraghim Gasseev was quoted by the agency as saying.

As yet there is no information on any casualties. South Ossetian officials claim the explosion might be a provocation by the Georgian military.

So far there has been no comment from Georgia about the blast.

The area is being monitored by a European Union peacekeeping mission, following Georgia's attack on South Ossetia in 2008.