KATHMANDU, Sept. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Suspected anti-government insurgents exploded a bomb Friday evening at the American Information Center, a semi-official US organization based in Nepal's capital of Kathmandu, but causing no casualties.

    The bomb was thrown from outside the eastern side wall of the center compound in Gyaneshwar of downtown Kathmandu at around 5:30 p.m. local time (1145GMT), an official of the center told Xinhua.

    The explosion has damaged the roof of a toilet in the center and there was no major damage or human casualty in the incident, the official said on condition of anonymity.

    Security personnel rushed to the scene and have cordoned off the area, he noted.

    This is the first time that the insurgents have targeted any office of the diplomatic mission since the insurgency began in 1996, he added.

    The American Center is funded by the US government, functioningas a cultural exchange organization in Nepal.

    The anti-government insurgents have intensified their violent activities targeting government forces, state-owned companies and foreign-invested enterprises across Nepal in recent weeks.

    About 10,000 Nepalese people have lost their lives since the anti-government insurgency broke out in the Himalayan kingdom in early 1996. Enditem