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Five dead in Lebanese city blast Lebanese city rocked by explosion
(40 minutes later)
At least five people have been killed in a powerful blast in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli. At least five people have been killed in a suspected car bomb attack on a military bus carrying soldiers in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli.
Witnesses and security officials said the explosion targeted a bus carrying Lebanese soldiers. At least a dozen people are believed have been wounded. Witnesses said the blast happened on the outskirts of the city during morning rush hour. Some 30 people are believed to be wounded.
Violent incidents across Lebanon in recent weeks have raised fears of a return to sectarian violence. Several soldiers as well as civilians were killed in a similar blast that hit a bus in the city last month.
At least 14 soldiers and civilians were killed in a bomb attack that hit a bus in the city last month. Tripoli has been hit by sectarian fighting in recent months.
A security official told the AFP news agency that the minibus was heading to the capital Beirut with about 24 people on board when the blast went off. Such attacks threaten the reconciliation effort aimed at ending the fighting between pro-government Sunni fighters and pro-Syrian gunmen.
He said at least six people had been killed, although a TV news channel in the region put the death toll at five. Threatened deal
The official told AFP that three of the dead were soldiers. Lebanese officials said the blast was caused by the detonation of a car packed with explosives parked by the roadside.
It appeared to be targeting a military bus that was passing through the area at the time.
However, civilians are believed to be among the casualties.
TV pictures showed soldiers sealing off the area and preventing people from approaching the scene of the blast.TV pictures showed soldiers sealing off the area and preventing people from approaching the scene of the blast.
Several nearby parked cars had shattered windows.Several nearby parked cars had shattered windows.
Correspondents say that Tripoli is an area that is rapidly becoming Lebanon's most volatile security hotspot. At least 14 people were killed in a similar attack on a bus in the city last month. Several of the victims were off-duty soldiers.
It has been rocked by sectarian fighting between pro-government Sunni fighters and pro-Syrian gunmen. The latest attack seriously undermines an attempt by the two sides in Tripoli to reach a reconciliation deal earlier this month.
Several of the victims in August's bus attack were off-duty soldiers.
It was Lebanon's deadliest bombing in more than three years.