An explosion ripped through an inter-city commuter train near Russia's rebel Chechnya on Friday, killing at least 15 people in what the Emergencies Ministry called a "terrorist act."

"A terrorist act occurred around 7:40 a.m., destroying the second wagon, which is lying on its side. According to preliminary information, 15 people have been killed," a ministry spokesman told Reuters.

The Emergencies Ministry in Moscow said 50 people had been injured in the blast which took place in Stavropol region north of Chechnya where separatists have been battling Russian forces for more than a decade.

It came as Russia prepared to vote Sunday in a parliamentary election likely to increase support for political parties supporting President Vladimir Putin who himself has taken a hard line against Chechnya separatism.

The blast occurred just as the train pulled out of the station of Kislovodsk bound for the town of Mineralnye Vody.

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