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Blast rocks Beirut eastern suburb Blast rocks Beirut eastern suburb
(about 1 hour later)
At least four people have been killed in a powerful car bombing in an eastern suburb of the Lebanese capital Beirut.At least four people have been killed in a powerful car bombing in an eastern suburb of the Lebanese capital Beirut.
A senior member of the police intelligence unit and another officer were among the dead, police say.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, Wissam Eid, was a technical expert in the Internal Security Forces who had been investigating the past bombings, local media said.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 routeMain 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.
In pictures: Bombing sceneIn pictures: Bombing scene
Emergency workers were filmed putting out fierce fires in vehicles at junction near one of the main highways through the capital.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 between rival pro-Syrian and pro-Western parties which has prevent the election of a president for more than two months. The blast comes at a time of political crisis in Lebanon between rival pro-Syrian and pro-Western parties which has prevented 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.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.
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.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.