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Deadly blast strikes southern Beirut Lebanon 'suicide bomber' strikes southern Beirut
(35 minutes later)
A deadly explosion has struck a southern district of the Lebanese capital of Beirut, officials say. A suicide bomber has blown himself up in a southern district of the Lebanese capital Beirut wounding several people, officials say.
Security sources say the cause of the blast is still unknown but initial indications suggest it might have been a car bomb, AFP news agency reports. The interior minister said the bomber detonated explosives in a minibus during rush hour in Choueifat district.
The area of Choueifat is home to a largely Christian and Druze population. The area is home to a largely Christian and Druze population.
There has been a spate of bomb attacks in Beirut in recent weeks largely blamed on the rise of sectarian tension over the conflict in Syria.There has been a spate of bomb attacks in Beirut in recent weeks largely blamed on the rise of sectarian tension over the conflict in Syria.
"A man wearing an explosive belt boarded a public minibus in Choueifat and blew himself up," Interior Minister Marwan Charbel told Lebanon's Mayadeen television channel.
He said at least one person had been killed in the blast, but it was unclear if that was in addition to the suicide bomber.
Early reports say at least three people were also wounded in the blast.
The target of the attack was not immediately clear.
Lebanese TV has aired footage from the scene of the blast showing the wrecked chassis of a roofless vehicle surrounded by onlookers.