3 killed in car explosion in eastern Ukraine

Three people were killed and four others injured after a car blew up in the center of the rebel-held eastern Ukraine city of Donetsk, authorities said Friday.
According to Donetsk Regional Administration, the incident occurred around 10 p.m. local time (2000 GMT) near the rebel-occupied government building.
The explosion left seven people seriously injured, three of whom died after being taken to hospital. The other four remained in intensive care as of Friday morning, the administration press service said.`
Meanwhile, the press office of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic said the car was used by rebel leader Denis Pushilin, but he was not in the vehicle at the time of the explosion.
Earlier in the day, Pushilin said the blast was an attempt on his life by his opponents, and indicated the "Ukrainian side" might have been behind the attack.
Pushilin is the self-styled head of Donetsk separatist republic and is orchestrating anti-government protests in eastern Ukraine.