In the Slovak capital, Bratislava, the Parliamentary Assembly's five-day spring session began on Friday. It is seen as a celebration of Slovakia's joining the security organisation earlier this year. Two bags filled with explosives were found in Bratislava on Thursday near the restored Reduta palace where hundreds of NATO parliamentary officials were due to meet. Thus, the capital was on heightened alert during the whole session, especially the historical centre around the venue. PHOTO - TASR
BRATISLAVA - Two bags filled with explosives were found in the Slovak capital Bratislava on Thursday near a building where over 300 NATO parliamentary officials are due to meet on Friday, officials said. They said one plastic bag was filled with half a kilo (1.1 lb) of a Czechoslovak industrial explosive dating back to 1991, and the second contained an explosive, apparently of Yugoslav origin, called Pentrix.
"The bags were found under a trash box," Interior Ministry spokesman Boris Azaltovic told journalists. "Police patrols searched the street yesterday...and again today...after receiving information from Slovak Information Service (the Slovak secret service)." Charges needed to ignite the compounds were also found in the bags but were not rigged for use, police said. An investigation is under way but no arrests have been made, they said. They declined to speculate on who might be responsible.
On Friday the NATO Parliamentary assembly is due to begin a five-day spring session in Bratislava. NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop will address a plenary session on June 1, as will Mohammed ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Reuters
