MOSCOW, July 1 (Xinhuanet) -- A bomb explosion killed at least 10 soldiers and wounded 7 others in southern Russia on Friday, the Itar-Tass news agency quoted local authorities as saying.

    The explosion occurred in the town of Makhachkala, regional capital of Dagestan, as a truck carrying interior ministry troops arrived at a bath house.

    "Ten soldiers died and seven were injured," said Zaur Issayev, deputy prosecutor of Dagestan. "All the dead were from the Russian interior ministry force."

    The explosive device was dug in the ground near a bath house that service men usually use and went off when the truck pulled up at it.

    Force of the explosion was equal to 10 kg of TNT, said police experts at the site.

    Preliminary information suggested that the bomb was set off with a remote control device. It was filled with cut metal to increase its destructive force, the experts said.

    Dagestan, which is next to Chechnya in the turbulent North Caucasus region, has been plagued by rising violence believed to be connected with insurgents and criminal gangs. Enditem