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Explosion rocks Christian area of Lebanon

Monday, August 22, 2005; Posted: 5:14 p.m. EDT (21:14 GMT)

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/08/22/beirut.blast/index.html

(CNN) -- An explosion has rocked a commercial center in a Christian
suburb north of Beirut, wounding at least five people, according to
reports from the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation.

The blast went off near the Hotel Promenade in Zalka, which is also
near a Starbucks cafe. However, there were conflicting reports of where
the bomb had been planted.

A Lebanese civil defense spokesperson told LBC that the bomb had been
planted inside a building, while a Lebanese security source said it was
detonated in a parking lot adjacent to the hotel.

The blast happened just before 11 p.m. (4 p.m. ET). Video from the LBC
showed army troops cordoning off the area and ambulance crews
responding to the scene.

The blast appeared to have caused extensive damage to the outside walls
of a building.

Just last month a powerful explosion rocked a Christian area of Beirut.
Hours after U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice paid a surprise
visit, the second major blast in two weeks shook the Lebanese capital on
July 22. No deaths were reported.

On July 12 Lebanon's outgoing deputy Prime Minister Elias Murr was
among 12 people wounded by a blast that tore through a Christian
neighborhood in northern Beirut. At least two people were killed.

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