The international community has condemned the blast in the Chechen capital of Grozny that killed Moscow-backed Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov and several others.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed retribution after the explosion when meeting with Kadyrov's son.

Chinese President Hu Jintao has expressed his condolences to Putin, reiterating China's opposition to terrorism in any form and support for Russia's efforts in combating terrorism.

The United States strongly condemned the explosion, branding it a terrorist attack. A White House spokesman says the US resolutely rejects all acts of terrorism and those who commit them.

In a written statement the European Commission re-affirmed its condemnation of all forms of terrorism regardless of its alleged motives and perpetrators.

Condemning the acts, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw says the situation in Chechnya can never be resolved by violence and assassination.

French Foreign Ministry says no form of terrorism, whatever cause it claims to serve, can be justified.