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Blast rocks Beirut eastern suburb Blast rocks Beirut eastern suburb
(about 1 hour later)
At least seven people have been killed in a powerful explosion in an eastern suburb of the Lebanese capital Beirut. At least six people have been killed in a powerful car bombing in an eastern suburb of the Lebanese capital Beirut.
A captain in a police intelligence unit was reported to be among the dead, although police have not commented. A senior member of the police intelligence unit and another officer were among the dead, police say.
Lebanese TV footage of Hazmieh, a mainly Christian suburb in eastern Beirut, showed a blackened crater and many tangled and burning cars.Lebanese TV footage of Hazmieh, a mainly Christian suburb in eastern Beirut, showed a blackened crater and many tangled and burning cars.
Beirut has witnessed a string of bomb attacks since 2004, many targeting members of the anti-Syrian movement.Beirut has witnessed a string of bomb attacks since 2004, many targeting members of the anti-Syrian movement.
The dead police official, identified as Wissam Eid, was a captain in the Internal Security Forces, local media reports say. The dead police official, Wissam Eid, was a technical expert in the Internal Security Forces who had been investigating the past bombings, local media said.
Main route
TV pictures showed what appeared to be the aftermath of a large blast causing damage over a considerable area at a junction in east Beirut.TV pictures showed what appeared to be the aftermath of a large blast causing damage over a considerable area at a junction in east Beirut.
Emergency workers tried to put out fierce fires on a large number of vehicles. Emergency workers were filmed putting out fierce fires in vehicles at junction near one of the main highways through the capital.
The blast comes at a time of political crisis in Lebanon with rival pro-Syrian and pro-Western parties deadlocked over efforts to elect a president. The blast comes at a time of political crisis in Lebanon between rival pro-Syrian and pro-Western parties which has prevent the election of a president for more than two months.
Lebanon's western-backed government says the bombings are a message from Syria, although Damascus denies it and condemns the killing.
The country has also been rocked by an uprising by Islamist militants in the north and attacks on UN peacekeepers in the south.The country has also been rocked by an uprising by Islamist militants in the north and attacks on UN peacekeepers in the south.
Last week a car bomb damaged a US diplomatic car in eastern Beirut, killing at least three bystanders. Ten days ago, a car bomb damaged a US diplomatic car in eastern Beirut, killing at least three bystanders, and last month the army's chief of operations was assassinated by similar means.