YANGON, Dec 22 (Reuters)

 

One worker was wounded when a small bomb exploded  in a Yangon restaurant frequented by foreign visitors to military-ruled Myanmar, a state-owned newspaper reported on Wednesday.

 

Witnesses reported seeing two men leave a package inside the Zawgyi House restaurant several hours before the blast occured at 2 p.m. (0730 GMT), the New Light of Myanmar said.

 

''The case is under investigation in order to expose the unscrupulous persons who committed the destructive act, '' the newspaper said.

 

The restaurant, owned by a French national, is near two shopping centres in central Yangon which were closed immediately after the explosion on Tuesday.

 

It was the second bomb attack in Yangon this year after a series of minor blasts near the railway station in June caused no injuries or major damage.

 

The military, which has ruled Myanmar in various guises since 1962, has blamed previous attacks on ''destructive elements'' -- an _expression often used to refer to political opponents and ethnic minority rebel groups fighting for autonomy.

 

Last year, one man was killed and three wounded when bombs exploded in Yangon on Armed Forces day.

 

State media have not blamed anyone for the bombing, which occured during the busy tourist season  when foreigners flock to the mystical, isolated Southeast Asian nation.

 

12/22/04 00:43 ET