Troops at the scene after the explosion

The explosion: eyewitness report

Tony Blair gives his reaction to the bomb

Explosion Rips Through Central Belfast

No group has so far claimed responsibility. The explosion came as the Prime Minister prepared for a meeting on the Northern Ireland peace process with President Clinton, in a fresh push to resolve the impasse. Mr Blair condemned the bombing, as did President Clinton, who said: "I deplore this act today."

It was the first explosion in Belfast since December 1996, when a small under-car booby trap wounded an IRA supporter, Eddie Copeland, outside his mother's home in north Belfast.

Eyewitnesses said they saw the back of the car blow up first. Ambulances rushed to the scene and a helicopter circled overhead.

The RUC said it did not know whether a device had been placed under the car or thrown at it. A spokesman denied reports that soldiers had been in the area at the time of the explosion, but could not confirm if anybody had been in the car.