Deadly blast in Beirut
Deadly explosion strikes mainly-Christian area of Lebanese capital Beirut
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Friday, 25, Jan 2008 10:24
Ten people are reported to have been killed in an explosion in a mainly-Christian area of the Lebanese capital Beirut.
A police chief connected to the investigation into the assassination of former prime minister Rafiki Hariri is reportedly among the dead.
Captain Wissam Eid, whose police intelligence unit has links to coalition leader Saad al-Hariri – Mr Hariri's son – only took up his post after his predecessor was wounded in a similar attack.
Local media said firefighters were battling the blaze caused by the explosion, which left several cars on fire.
It has not yet been determined whether the Furn al-Shebbak neighbourhood blast was caused by a suicide bomber or a car bomb.
More than a week ago a car bomb struck a US diplomatic convoy, killing at least three people, as Lebanon toils in its worst political crisis since the 1975 to 1990 civil war.
The western-supported ruling coalition and pro-Syrian Hizbullah-led opposition have been unable to agree upon a successor to president Emile Lahoud, who stepped down in November 23rd last year when his term of office expired.