Device was discovered near the Dail

Irish police increasingly believe dissident republicans rather than loyalists were behind an attempted bomb attack close to the country's parliament.

Army bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion on a pipebomb found near the Dail in the centre of Dublin.

It was not clear whether the pipe bomb was linked to the visit to Dublin by UK Prime Minister Tony Blair on Tuesday.

Mr Blair and Irish premier Bertie Ahern are expected to discuss the way ahead in the political process after last week's election postponement in Northern Ireland.

Irish police said searches were also being carried out for other possible devices.

Gardai said the Samaritans received a phone call at 0640 BST on Tuesday which said a suspicious device had been left inside the railings of the National Gallery near the Dail.

Irish army bomb disposal experts, who carried out a controlled explosion, said the device was a pipebomb.

The gardai, who describe the development "as worrying".

Superintendent Tom Conway said: "Of course, it is a worrying development."

He said the warning call would be studied to find the person or people responsible.

Searches for other possible devices took place close to the British embassy and the Department of Foreign Affairs but nothing was found.