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| Powerful Bomb Kills Senior Politician in Beirut | |
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| BEIRUT, Lebanon — A powerful bomb shook central Beirut Friday morning, killing at least six people, officials said, and injuring dozens more. Among the dead was Mohamad B. Chatah, a former Lebanese finance minister and ambassador to the United States who was a vocal critic of the government in neighboring Syria and its ally, the Lebanese militia Hezbollah. | BEIRUT, Lebanon — A powerful bomb shook central Beirut Friday morning, killing at least six people, officials said, and injuring dozens more. Among the dead was Mohamad B. Chatah, a former Lebanese finance minister and ambassador to the United States who was a vocal critic of the government in neighboring Syria and its ally, the Lebanese militia Hezbollah. |
| It was not immediately clear whether Mr. Chatah was the intended target of the bomb. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which was reminiscent of a string of unsolved bombings that have targeted anti-Syrian politicians over the past decade. | It was not immediately clear whether Mr. Chatah was the intended target of the bomb. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which was reminiscent of a string of unsolved bombings that have targeted anti-Syrian politicians over the past decade. |
| Mr. Chatah was a prominent member of the Future bloc, the mainly Sunni party headed by Saad Hariri, son of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, whose death in a 2005 bombing in Beirut sparked the March 14 protest movement that helped end Syria’s 29-year military presence in Lebanon. Nohad al-Mashnouq, a member of Parliament in the Future bloc and a friend of Mr. Chatah’s, confirmed in an interview that he had been killed. | Mr. Chatah was a prominent member of the Future bloc, the mainly Sunni party headed by Saad Hariri, son of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, whose death in a 2005 bombing in Beirut sparked the March 14 protest movement that helped end Syria’s 29-year military presence in Lebanon. Nohad al-Mashnouq, a member of Parliament in the Future bloc and a friend of Mr. Chatah’s, confirmed in an interview that he had been killed. |
| The attack deepened the sense of instability in Lebanon, which is sharply divided over the war in neighboring Syria, with the Future bloc and its allies backing the opponents of President Bashar al-Assad and Hezbollah supporting him. The country has been without a functioning government for months because of a related political stalemate. Several car bombs have exploded in the southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has many supporters, with Syrian insurgents or allied Lebanese militants being widely blamed for the attacks. | The attack deepened the sense of instability in Lebanon, which is sharply divided over the war in neighboring Syria, with the Future bloc and its allies backing the opponents of President Bashar al-Assad and Hezbollah supporting him. The country has been without a functioning government for months because of a related political stalemate. Several car bombs have exploded in the southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has many supporters, with Syrian insurgents or allied Lebanese militants being widely blamed for the attacks. |
| But Friday’s bombing was the first to tear through Beirut’s shiny renovated downtown since Mr. Hariri’s death, dealing a psychological blow to Beirut’s perennially resilient residents. The attack brought the violence to the heart of Beirut’s business district, bustling and decked in Christmas decorations, leaving the streets deserted. | But Friday’s bombing was the first to tear through Beirut’s shiny renovated downtown since Mr. Hariri’s death, dealing a psychological blow to Beirut’s perennially resilient residents. The attack brought the violence to the heart of Beirut’s business district, bustling and decked in Christmas decorations, leaving the streets deserted. |
| “This is a time when this plaza would be crowded, full of hope and colors, and now it’s black with this criminal act,” said Elie Ward, the manager of the nearby Sultan Ibrahim restaurant, watching as investigators in white jumpsuits examined a charred car chassis lying by a reflecting pool outside an office complex. “But Beirut is sending a message to all the world, that she will stay alive.” | “This is a time when this plaza would be crowded, full of hope and colors, and now it’s black with this criminal act,” said Elie Ward, the manager of the nearby Sultan Ibrahim restaurant, watching as investigators in white jumpsuits examined a charred car chassis lying by a reflecting pool outside an office complex. “But Beirut is sending a message to all the world, that she will stay alive.” |
| Saad Hariri, the Future leader, issued a statement implying that Hezbollah, Lebanon’s most powerful political party, was to blame, and noting that the international tribunal that has indicted members of Hezbollah in his father’s killing is due to hold its opening sessions in The Hague in early January. | Saad Hariri, the Future leader, issued a statement implying that Hezbollah, Lebanon’s most powerful political party, was to blame, and noting that the international tribunal that has indicted members of Hezbollah in his father’s killing is due to hold its opening sessions in The Hague in early January. |
| “Those who assassinated Mohamad Chatah are the ones who assassinated Rafik Hariri, and who want to assassinate Lebanon and humiliate and weaken the state,” he said. He called them “the same people who are running away from international justice,” and said they were “luring regional fires to our country.” | “Those who assassinated Mohamad Chatah are the ones who assassinated Rafik Hariri, and who want to assassinate Lebanon and humiliate and weaken the state,” he said. He called them “the same people who are running away from international justice,” and said they were “luring regional fires to our country.” |
| Hezbollah, which denies involvement in the Hariri killing, issued a statement calling the bombing “a heinous crime” and calling for a full investigation by the security forces. It said the attack was part of “a series of crimes and bombings aimed at sabotaging the country, a sinful attempt to target stability and hit national unity, which only benefits the enemies of Lebanon.” | Hezbollah, which denies involvement in the Hariri killing, issued a statement calling the bombing “a heinous crime” and calling for a full investigation by the security forces. It said the attack was part of “a series of crimes and bombings aimed at sabotaging the country, a sinful attempt to target stability and hit national unity, which only benefits the enemies of Lebanon.” |
| Hezbollah has for months called on the Lebanese to prevent violence from Syria from spilling over into their country; its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has said that if Lebanese want to settle their differences with violence, they should do so in Syria, where Lebanese Sunni militants have joined the rebels and where Hezbollah has sent its Shiite fighters to aid the government. | Hezbollah has for months called on the Lebanese to prevent violence from Syria from spilling over into their country; its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has said that if Lebanese want to settle their differences with violence, they should do so in Syria, where Lebanese Sunni militants have joined the rebels and where Hezbollah has sent its Shiite fighters to aid the government. |
| Hezbollah has been seen as refraining from urging revenge for the recent bombings that targeted its base in the southern suburbs, though the militant group is under pressure from some of its members to respond. Hezbollah’s supporters have accused the Future Movement of sending arms to Syrian insurgents. Future is close to Saudi Arabia, one of the insurgents’ main international backers. | Hezbollah has been seen as refraining from urging revenge for the recent bombings that targeted its base in the southern suburbs, though the militant group is under pressure from some of its members to respond. Hezbollah’s supporters have accused the Future Movement of sending arms to Syrian insurgents. Future is close to Saudi Arabia, one of the insurgents’ main international backers. |
| Mr. Chatah, in his last Twitter message Friday morning shortly before he was killed, was critical of Hezbollah, saying it sought to exercise the same power in Lebanon that it did during the 15 years Syria occupied the country after the end of its civil war. | Mr. Chatah, in his last Twitter message Friday morning shortly before he was killed, was critical of Hezbollah, saying it sought to exercise the same power in Lebanon that it did during the 15 years Syria occupied the country after the end of its civil war. |
| Hezbollah insists on maintaining its powerful militia independent of state institutions, which is says is necessary to counter Israel, but which its critics say it uses to impose its will on the country. | Hezbollah insists on maintaining its powerful militia independent of state institutions, which is says is necessary to counter Israel, but which its critics say it uses to impose its will on the country. |
| Minutes after the blast, cars were aflame along a plaza in front of the Starco building complex, a downtown site notable for having survived unscathed through the civil war from 1975 to 1990 that gutted much of the surrounding area. Security officials were removing cellphones from two bodies lying on the ground. | Minutes after the blast, cars were aflame along a plaza in front of the Starco building complex, a downtown site notable for having survived unscathed through the civil war from 1975 to 1990 that gutted much of the surrounding area. Security officials were removing cellphones from two bodies lying on the ground. |
| The explosion struck a few blocks from the waterfront site where Mr. Hariri was killed, the last bombing to hit the downtown. Later, there was a hushed bustle at the scene as workers, several with bandaged wounds, swept broken glass from the complex, which includes a Rolls-Royce office, hair salons, an upscale gym, a popular cabaret and many offices. | The explosion struck a few blocks from the waterfront site where Mr. Hariri was killed, the last bombing to hit the downtown. Later, there was a hushed bustle at the scene as workers, several with bandaged wounds, swept broken glass from the complex, which includes a Rolls-Royce office, hair salons, an upscale gym, a popular cabaret and many offices. |
| Security has been heightened in recent weeks downtown, with soldiers standing guard at important intersections in armored vehicles. Jihadist groups fighting alongside the Syrian rebels, including Lebanese militants, have threatened to increase attacks in Lebanon over Hezbollah’s intervention on the side of the Syrian government, and at the same time, there have been fears of retaliation against Saudi or Sunni targets after bombings that targeted Hezbollah and the embassy of Iran, another ally of the Syrian government, in recent months. | Security has been heightened in recent weeks downtown, with soldiers standing guard at important intersections in armored vehicles. Jihadist groups fighting alongside the Syrian rebels, including Lebanese militants, have threatened to increase attacks in Lebanon over Hezbollah’s intervention on the side of the Syrian government, and at the same time, there have been fears of retaliation against Saudi or Sunni targets after bombings that targeted Hezbollah and the embassy of Iran, another ally of the Syrian government, in recent months. |
| Mr. Chatah, a prominent economist, was a seasoned diplomat, who had served as a senior adviser to former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and his successor, Saad Hariri. He was also a former finance minister and was ambassador to the United States from 1997 to 2000. He had also worked at the International Monetary Fund, and had been a spokesman for the Lebanese government. Born in Tripoli, he was married with two children. | Mr. Chatah, a prominent economist, was a seasoned diplomat, who had served as a senior adviser to former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and his successor, Saad Hariri. He was also a former finance minister and was ambassador to the United States from 1997 to 2000. He had also worked at the International Monetary Fund, and had been a spokesman for the Lebanese government. Born in Tripoli, he was married with two children. |
| Mr. Ward, the restaurant manager, said the bombing would deepen the economic crisis the country faces, gutting holiday business. “People will be afraid to come to this area,” he said. | Mr. Ward, the restaurant manager, said the bombing would deepen the economic crisis the country faces, gutting holiday business. “People will be afraid to come to this area,” he said. |
| He blamed greedy, warring politicians who want to show people, “If you don’t go along with us, see what happens.” | He blamed greedy, warring politicians who want to show people, “If you don’t go along with us, see what happens.” |
| “As long as there is conflict around Lebanon, there will be others,” he said. “This is not the Lebanese community that I want.” | “As long as there is conflict around Lebanon, there will be others,” he said. “This is not the Lebanese community that I want.” |
| Samir Knio, who responded to the scene with a volunteer civil defense organization founded during the civil war, said the bombing aimed “to destroy Lebanon,” adding, “Nobody would do this unless they are anti-Lebanon, anti-civilian, anti-humanity.” | Samir Knio, who responded to the scene with a volunteer civil defense organization founded during the civil war, said the bombing aimed “to destroy Lebanon,” adding, “Nobody would do this unless they are anti-Lebanon, anti-civilian, anti-humanity.” |
| The bombing struck an area that symbolizes the ongoing struggle over Lebanon’s identity. The downtown was largely destroyed during the civil war as it became a no man’s land between Christian East Beirut and Muslim West Beirut. The area, once a commercial center for Lebanese of all social classes, was rebuilt as a shopping and office district mainly patronized by the wealthy. The effort was led by Rafik Hariri, and was seen by his critics as corrupt and nepotistic, and by his supporters as a symbol of Lebanon’s rebirth. | The bombing struck an area that symbolizes the ongoing struggle over Lebanon’s identity. The downtown was largely destroyed during the civil war as it became a no man’s land between Christian East Beirut and Muslim West Beirut. The area, once a commercial center for Lebanese of all social classes, was rebuilt as a shopping and office district mainly patronized by the wealthy. The effort was led by Rafik Hariri, and was seen by his critics as corrupt and nepotistic, and by his supporters as a symbol of Lebanon’s rebirth. |
| At the Hi Tec Fitness gym overlooking the bomb site, a Christmas poinsettia and a basket of red glass Christmas balls stood untouched among the shattered glass. Yvan Richy, the manager, said he had seen “a sudden flash of light” and then the windows had caved in. | At the Hi Tec Fitness gym overlooking the bomb site, a Christmas poinsettia and a basket of red glass Christmas balls stood untouched among the shattered glass. Yvan Richy, the manager, said he had seen “a sudden flash of light” and then the windows had caved in. |
| “I don’t know what to think,” he said. “When terror wants to strike, you never know.” | “I don’t know what to think,” he said. “When terror wants to strike, you never know.” |
Anne Barnard reported from Beirut, and Dan Bilefsky from Paris. Hwaida Saad and Mohammad Ghannam contributed reporting from Beirut. | Anne Barnard reported from Beirut, and Dan Bilefsky from Paris. Hwaida Saad and Mohammad Ghannam contributed reporting from Beirut. |