Car bomb explodes in Turkey's Kayseri; 13 soldiers killed, dozens wounded

Istanbul: Thirteen Turkish soldiers were killed and 48 wounded on Saturday after a car bomb exploded near public bus in the central Turkish city of Kayseri, reports said.

The soldiers -- all low-ranking privates and non-commissioned officers -- had been given permission for leave from the commando headquarters in the city, the army said in a statement.

The wounded were being treated in hospital while there could also be additional civilian casualties, it said.

Initial television pictures showed that the bus had been reduced to a smouldering wreck by the impact of the blast.

The explosion comes a week after 44 people were killed in an attack in Istanbul claimed by Kurdish militants.

Turkey has seen a spate of deadly bombings in 2016 blamed both in jihadists and Kurdish militants that have left dozens dead.

One of the main cities of central Turkey, Kayersi is a key industrial hub that is usually seen as a peaceful area.

It is well west of the southeast of the country that has been hit by months of deadly fighting between Kurdish militants and the security forces.