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Lebanon lawmaker killed in blast Lebanon lawmaker killed in blast
(about 4 hours later)
A Lebanese politician from a pro-Syrian faction has been killed in a car bombing south-east of the capital, Beirut, security officials say. A member of the pro-Syrian opposition in Lebanon has been killed in a car bombing south-east of the capital, Beirut, security officials have said.
Saleh Aridi, of the Lebanese Democratic Party, was killed when his car exploded in the village of Baissour. Saleh Aridi, of the Lebanese Democratic Party, was killed was killed when a bomb exploded as he started his car's engine in the village of Baissour.
At least three other people were injured in the blast, an army spokesman said. At least three other people were injured in the blast, the army said.
The killing comes less than a week ahead of planned reconciliation talks among rival Lebanese factions. It comes a day after the president announced reconciliation talks among rival factions would be held next week.
Tensions between pro- and anti-Syrian factions led to serious clashes in the country in May and sparked fears of civil war. An 18-month stalemate between the Christian, Sunni Muslim and Druze governing coalition and the pro-Syrian opposition - led by Shia Islamist group Hezbollah - had brought the country to crisis point.
Both sides are now part of a national unity government and the talks next week are aimed at narrowing their differences. But both sides formed a national unity government last month, and the talks next week are aimed at narrowing their differences.
Mr Aridi, who was in his 50s, was a top adviser to pro-Syrian Druze leader and government minister Talal Arslan. Mr Arslan is a rival to anti-Syrian Druze leader Walid Jumblatt. 'Bloody message'
Nazih Abu Ibrahim, a party colleague of Mr Aridi, said the blast was "a bloody message" aimed at igniting violence between the two sides. Mr Aridi, who was in his 50s, was a top adviser to pro-Syrian Druze leader and government minister Talal Arslan. Mr Arslan is a rival of the powerful anti-Syrian Druze leader, Walid Jumblatt.
Lebanon has been rocked by a string of political assassinations in recent years - but the targets have mostly been anti-Syrian lawmakers. LEBANESE ASSASSINATIONS Feb 2005: Ex-PM Rafik HaririApril 2005: MP Bassel FleihanJune 2005: Anti-Syria journalist Samir KassirJune 2005: Ex-Communist leader George HawiDec 2005: Anti-Syria MP Gebran TueniNov 2006: Industry Minister Pierre GemayelJune 2007: Anti-Syria MP Walid EidoSep 2007: Anti-Syria MP Antoine GhanimDec 2007: Army Gen Francois al-HajjJan 2008: Police investigator Wissam EidSep 2008: Pro-Syria MP Saleh Aridi
Nazih Abu Ibrahim, a party colleague of Mr Aridi, said he was killed as he got into his Mercedes in front of his home in Baissour, a village near the town of Aley, at about 2130 (1830 GMT). He was alone in his vehicle at the time.
The charge was placed under the car's body, below the driver's seat, and blew up as the car moved, police said. They believe it was triggered either by remote control or by a motion sensor.
No-one has claimed responsibility for the blast, but Mr Abu Ibrahim said it was "a bloody message" aimed at igniting violence between the two rival Druze factions.
There have been a series of assassinations of political figures in Lebanon since the killing of the former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in 2005, but this is the first since January.
Past targets have mostly been anti-Syrian lawmakers.