2 killed in New Delhi bombing

A bomb ripped through a crowded market in India's capital New Delhi on Saturday, killing two people and wounding 18 others, police said.

Ajay Kashyap, joint police commissioner, said the victims were a small girl and a boy. "We are examining witnesses who saw two men throw a piece of plastic bag from a motorcycle. That caused the blast," he said.

Raj Singh Daswal told Reuters he saw two men on a motorcycle drop a black plastic bag which was picked up by a boy.

"He ran after the men telling them 'uncle, uncle you dropped something'," Daswal said. "Immediately after, there was a huge explosion. The boy's head was blown off."

Y.S. Dadwal, city police chief told Reuters: "We are looking for clues and trying to find out how the blast happened."

The bomb left a crater on the road. Police cordoned off the blast site to keep away a crowd of hundreds of people. Many, including wailing women, tried to break through the cordon.

People were seen walking in blood-stained shirts. Locals carried the injured to hospital. Bomb experts picked through debris for clues and sniffer dogs were brought in.

Police said they were evacuating people from all major markets in the city.

"I strongly condemn in strongest terms these barbaric acts of violence leading to loss of innocent lives, including children," India's Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said.

"The government is determined to end this menace and to take appropriate steps. The culprits will be brought to book."

The explosion comes days after a series of bombs in the capital that killed 23 people and wounded more than 100 others.