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| Lebanon lawmaker killed in blast | Lebanon lawmaker killed in blast |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| A Lebanese politician from a pro-Syrian faction has been killed in a car bombing south-east of the capital, Beirut, security officials say. | A Lebanese politician from a pro-Syrian faction has been killed in a car bombing south-east of the capital, Beirut, security officials say. |
| Saleh Aridi, of the Lebanese Democratic Party, was killed when his car exploded in the village of Baissour. | Saleh Aridi, of the Lebanese Democratic Party, was killed when his car exploded in the village of Baissour. |
| At least three other people were injured in the blast, an army spokesman said. | At least three other people were injured in the blast, an army spokesman said. |
| The killing comes less than a week ahead of planned reconciliation talks among rival Lebanese factions. | The killing comes less than a week ahead of planned reconciliation talks among rival Lebanese factions. |
| Tensions between pro- and anti-Syrian factions led to serious clashes in the country in May and sparked fears of civil war. | Tensions between pro- and anti-Syrian factions led to serious clashes in the country in May and sparked fears of civil war. |
| Both sides are now part of a national unity government and the talks next week are aimed at narrowing their differences. | Both sides are now part of a national unity government and the talks next week are aimed at narrowing their differences. |
| Mr Aridi, who was in his 50s, was a top adviser to pro-Syrian Druze leader and government minister Talal Arslan. Mr Arslan is a rival to anti-Syrian Druze leader Walid Jumblatt. | Mr Aridi, who was in his 50s, was a top adviser to pro-Syrian Druze leader and government minister Talal Arslan. Mr Arslan is a rival to anti-Syrian Druze leader Walid Jumblatt. |
| Nazih Abu Ibrahim, a party colleague of Mr Aridi, said the blast was "a bloody message" aimed at igniting violence between the two sides. | Nazih Abu Ibrahim, a party colleague of Mr Aridi, said the blast was "a bloody message" aimed at igniting violence between the two sides. |
| Lebanon has been rocked by a string of political assassinations in recent years - but the targets have mostly been anti-Syrian lawmakers. |