The blast occurred around 4 p.m. at a two-story apartment building, and police were investigating at the scene, said a duty officer in the Bukhara regional police department who spoke on condition of anonymity.

She said officials were looking at possible links to a string of attacks that have struck Uzbekistan over the past week. Police relased no other details.

The blast occurred in the same area as an explosion at an alleged terrorist bomb workshop that killed 10 people Sunday night. Days of violence followed.

Yesterday, an Uzbek anti-terror official said Thursday was linked to al-Qaida, the first time the Uzbek government has directly accused the terror network headed by Osama bin Laden.

Including the latest explosion, at least 44 people have died in attacks, mostly alleged terrorists.