A bomb jolted Indonesia's parliament Monday, police said, causing only minor damage. The blast came days after police captured a group of Islamic activists and seized a huge quantity of explosives. The explosion, in the basement of a building that is the symbolic heart of Indonesia's fledging democracy, was the latest blow to a country grappling with Muslim militant groups and ethnic rebellions. Parliament is in recess and police said no one was injured. "Yes it was a bomb. It was quite strong. I can't explain at the moment what type it was," Jakarta police chief Makbul Padmanegara told reporters at the sprawling parliament complex in central Jakarta. The force of the blast blew concrete -- and nails -- across a wide area. Police said the device was placed near an air-conditioning unit at the back of a function venue used for catering but close to the main parliamentary auditorium, which was empty at the time. Officials said the blast went off at 8.30 a.m. Security analysts said it was too soon to connect the latest attack with Jemaah Islamiah. "You could argue there is a link but to be honest it could equally be 101 other things. It could be someone angry with some piece of legislation," said one Western security risk analyst. Last week parliament passed a bill paving the way for the country's first direct presidential election in 2004. Bombings have occurred sporadically in Indonesia since it began its messy transition to democracy in 1998. **PHOTO CAPTION*** A police dog walks with its handlers after examining the site of an explosion at the Indonesian parliament in Jakarta July 14, 2003. (Darren Whiteside/Reuters)