MINSK, Belarus (AP) - Belarus' authoritarian president said Saturday he does not believe a bomb that tore through a concert he was attending was aimed at him.

The bomb wounded around 50 people who were among thousands at a concert Friday in central Minsk commemorating Belarus' Independence Day.

"I don't think it was targeted against me," President Alexander Lukashenko told journalists while visiting a historical-cultural center in the Minsk region.

No arrests have been made and officials have blamed the bombing on "hooligans."

Lukashenko, in office since 1994, has harshly suppressed dissent and independent news media.

But he said he would not use the bombing as a pretext to get tougher on opposition forces.

"We do not plan a policy of tightening the screws after the incident," he said.

Russia's security service has joined with Belarusian officers in investigating the bombing. Lukashenko also said the United States had offered assistance, which would be accepted if necessary.

Tensions between Washington and Minsk are high over U.S. pressure, including sanctions, aimed at forcing Lukashenko to ease off his suppression of opposition and release political prisoners.