Hundreds dead in Congo Republic blasts

At least 200 people are killed when a series of explosions rock the capital of the Congo Republic.<br/> <br />A fire in an arms depot in a military base is believed to be the cause of the blasts.<br/> <br />Official sources say many more have been injured.<br/> <br />The explosions in Brazzaville were so strong they broke shop windows across the river in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (French) SHOP SECURITY GUARD, THIERRY, SAYING:<br/> <br />"The first explosion there caused cracks in our windows here and the second explosion broke all the windows of the shop, but we don't know what happened."<br/> <br />The blasts caused panic in Kinshasa, where some residents said they thought it was the beginning of a war.<br/> <br />Witnesses in Brazzaville said residents had fled the blast area and houses all around had been flattened.<br/> <br />Lindsey Parietti, Reuters