BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan - A blast has rocked the centre of Kyrgyzstan's capital ahead of a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The Interior Ministry says the explosion took place early Tuesday outside the venue of a high-profile trial against top officials of the recently deposed government. There are no reported casualties.

Tensions are high in the Central Asian nation amid a sensitive political bargaining over the formation of a new government and renewed violence in the restive south.

Clashes between security forces and Islamic militants broke out Monday in the southern city of Osh.

Clinton is due to travel to the country Thursday.