This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25524729

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Beirut blast kills Sunni ex-minister Mohamad Chatah Beirut blast kills Sunni ex-minister Mohamad Chatah
(about 1 hour later)
The former Lebanese Finance Minister Mohamad Chatah has been assassinated in a big bomb blast in central Beirut.The former Lebanese Finance Minister Mohamad Chatah has been assassinated in a big bomb blast in central Beirut.
He was an adviser to the former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, a Sunni Muslim. Four others were killed and at least 50 hurt in the suspected car bombing.
Four others were also killed in the suspected car bombing near government offices and the parliament. At least 50 people were injured. Mr Chatah, a Sunni Muslim, was an adviser to ex-PM Saad Hariri. He was also a staunch critic of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Lebanon's Shia Hezbollah movement that backs him.
The Syrian war has increased Lebanon's Sunni-Shia tensions. Lebanon's Shia Hezbollah movement is helping Syria's President Bashar al-Assad. There has been a wave of attacks in Lebanon, linked to heightened Sunni-Shia tensions over the Syrian war.
President Assad comes from the Alawite sect, a heterodox offshoot of Shia Islam. Saad Hariri implicitly accused Hezbollah of carrying out the attack.
The Beirut blast damaged several buildings near the Phoenicia Hotel and set several cars ablaze. He blamed "those who are hiding from international justice and who have spread the regional fire to the [Lebanese] nation".
Reports say Mr Chatah's car was targeted as he was travelling to a meeting with his Sunni opposition parliamentary bloc. Five Hezbollah suspects are due to go on trial in three week' time, charged in connection with assassinating Saad Hariri's father and former Prime Minister, Rafik, in a huge car bombing in February 2005.
Some of the Syrian rebel groups are affiliated with the Sunni Muslim al-Qaeda network. Hezbollah has denied involvement in Rafik Hariri's death.
Iran, which backs Hezbollah, saw its embassy in Beirut attacked last month. No-one has claimed responsibility for Friday's attack.
Mr Chatah was a staunch critic of President Assad and Hezbollah.
'Terror and panic''Terror and panic'
In a Twitter message early on Friday, shortly before he was killed, Mr Chatah said Hezbollah was "pressing hard to be granted similar powers in security and foreign policy matters that Syria exercised in Lebanon for 15 years". Mr Chatah was on his way to a meeting of the anti-Syrian March 14 bloc, led by Saad Hariri, when his convoy was hit.
Mr Chatah became finance minister in 2008. After Saad Hariri lost the premiership in early 2011 Mr Chatah served as his senior adviser. The blast damaged several buildings near the Phoenicia Hotel and set several cars ablaze.
Witnesses described shock and fear at the scene of the blast.Witnesses described shock and fear at the scene of the blast.
"We were opening our store when we heard the blast. It was really loud. We are used to blasts in Lebanon but not in this area. Now we are not safe anywhere," said a shop assistant quoted by AFP news agency, which named him simply as Mohammad. "We were opening our store when we heard the blast. It was really loud. We are used to blasts in Lebanon but not in this area. Now we are not safe anywhere," said Mohammad, a shop assistant quoted by AFP news agency.
A witness quoted by Reuters news agency said the explosion "caught motorists driving in the morning rush hour" and "there was terror and panic among residents". Adel-Raouf Kneio, who saw the blast, told Reuters news agency the explosion "caught motorists driving in the morning rush hour" and "there was terror and panic among residents".
"There was a big ball of fire and panic everywhere and then we learned that Chatah was the target," said the witness, Adel-Raouf Kneio. "There was a big ball of fire and panic everywhere and then we learned that Chatah was the target," he said.
Syria conflict
In a Twitter message early on Friday, shortly before he was killed, Mr Chatah said Hezbollah was "pressing hard to be granted similar powers in security and foreign policy matters that Syria exercised in Lebanon for 15 years".
Syria withdrew its forces from Lebanon amid a backlash over the killing of Rafik Hariri.
Hezbollah has sent fighters to help President Assad in the war against Sunni-led rebels in Syria. President Assad comes from the Alawite sect, a heterodox offshoot of Shia Islam.
Iran, which backs Hezbollah, saw its embassy in Beirut attacked last month. A little known Sunni militant group said it has carried out that attack.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditionsRead the terms and conditions