Myanmar ups security alert against bomb attacks

The Myanmar government Tuesday raised nationwide security alert against terrorist attacks in the wake of a series of bomb attacks in Phyu, Toungoo, Yangon, Mandalay and Sagaing towns in the past several days.

According to state radio and TV, two bombs exploded Tuesday within two hours in a guest house and car parking area near a pagoda in Sagaing, reports Xinhua.

Since Friday, there were a series of bomb explosions in these regions. Some of the bombs were defused by security personnel.

"One suspect has been arrested in connection with the incidents," U Ye Htut, spokesman of the President's office said on his website.

Htut said such incidents -- when Myanmar takes the ASEAN chair and is about to host the Southeast Asian Games -- are aimed at tarnishing the country's image in the international arena.

A bomb explosion Friday in a guest house in Taungoo killed two people.