A bomb exploded Wednesday in front of a US department store in the southern Mexican city of Oaxaca, causing substantial damage to the building although no one was injured, according to dpa. The explosion occurred before a Sears store in a commercial area of the city, while another bomb placed before an office of a US bank was defused, District attorney Evencio Martinez Ramirez said. No one claimed responsibility for the bombs. The authorities said that the bomb which did not explode was homemade. Oaxaca has suffered for more than one year from a conflict between a radical civic movement and state Governor Ulises Ruiz. Only a few days ago several people were injured in violent clashes between police and demonstrators demanding the resignation of the governor. Three weeks ago an armed organization known as the People's Revolutionary Army (EPR) claimed responsibility for attacks on four gas pipes in the states of Queretaro and Guanajuato.
