SUVA, Fiji -- A bomb exploded Saturday at the home of Education Minister Ratu Filimone Ralogivau, seriously injuring his wife, 10-year-old daughter and a housemaid, authorities said.
No one claimed responsibility for the blast, which triggered a fire that caused extensive damage to the residence.
Police said the minister was not at home at the time of the explosion, which was the third bombing in as many weeks.
'The bomb was left in an empty cardboard box inside the garage of the minister's house,' police inspector Romanu Tikotikoca said. 'The blast was quite strong and it shook nearby houses.'
Police said the minister's wife, identified only as Mrs. Ralogivau, received serious wounds to her face and body. The other two victims, Ralogivau's 10-year-old daughter and a housemaid, were taken to hospital with injuries.
The house, 4 miles east of the capital, is just two blocks away from the home of deposed Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra.
Bavadra, leader of the Indian-dominated Coalition Party won elections last April only to be overthrown in a bloodless coup by army Col. Sitiveni Rabuka on May 14.
Ralogivau was a member of the Coalition Party, but was expelled last week for accepting the education portfolio from Rabuka, who declared Fiji a republic on Oct. 7 and announced a 19-member Council of Ministers to help him administer the country until elections are held.
Rabuka hopes to ensure political control by native Fijians over those of Indian descent, who were brought to Fiji in the last century by British sugar cane growers and now make up 49 percent of the country's 700,000 population.
Rabuka's declaration severed Fiji's 113-year-old ties with Britain.
