Grenade attack on Russian embassy

The grenade was thrown hours before an expected visit by Putin

MINSK, Belarus -- A hand grenade has been thrown at the Russian embassy in Belarus, security officials said.

Some damage was caused to the building but no-one was injured.

The overnight attack on Thursday came as leaders of former Soviet republics were heading to Minsk, the Belarus capital, for a summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Among those expected to attend are Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The grenade blew a hole about 17 centimetres (seven inches) in diameter in the embassy ground, the Interfax news agency reported.

"This is a double provocation that might have political consequences," said Fyordor Kotov, spokesman for the State Security Committee.

Interfax cited eye-witnesses as saying that two people had tossed a grenade over a stone fence surrounding the embassy.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko immediately called an emergency government meeting to co-ordinate the police response.