Islamabad: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf last night (Dec 14, 2003) had a providential escape, when a powerful bomb went off minutes after his highly guarded convoy crossed a bridge in Rawalpindi.

Pakistan Defence Ministry spokesman Major General Shoukat Sultan told the media in Islamabad that Musharraf was safe and the blast had not caused any casualties, but only damaged the bridge partially.

Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said Musharraf was returning home at Army House in Rawalpindi, from the city's airport after his visit to Karachi.

The blast, which took place at Jhanda Chachi Bridge near Chaklal airport on way to Rawalpindi, was so close that 61-year-old Musharraf heard it himself even as his convoy was immediately driven to safety.

Sheikh Rashid told reporters that he spoke to Musharraf after the incident and he was cheerful.

He said the explosion damaged the bridge but caused no harm to Musharraf.

The blast at the bridge was so powerful that it could be heard from some distance and several residents in the area reported that windowpanes of their houses broke under the impact of the explosion.

Witnesses said a massive column of smoke followed the blast while some unconfirmed reports spoke of small arms fire after the explosion.

"Of course, certainly, it was a terrorist act and it was me who was targeted," Musharraf said hours after the blast.

"There was an explosion just a minute or half a minute after we crossed the bridge. I felt the explosion in my car. That is all I know," he told PTV.

"And let me say with confidence that I am used to such incident (which) have happened before also".

The Pakistani military ruler has survived two earlier attempts on his life.

"One does not get bothered. One has to trust in God. There is no problem. Life continues normally," Musharraf said.

PTI