Three people hurt in small blast in Istanbul

ISTANBUL, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Three people were injured in a small blast on Monday in the heart of Istanbul's main tourist district, the Anatolian state news agency said.

It said the blast was caused by an explosive substance left in a bag under a park bench in the Sultanahmet district, famed for its historic monuments.

One of the three underwent an operation in hospital for the injuries she suffered.

Blasts are quite common in Turkey, where Kurdish separatists, radical Islamists and ultra-leftists all operate. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Monday's blast.

Sultanahmet is the main magnet for tourists visiting Istanbul, Turkey's biggest city and commercial hub.