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| 'Eleven killed' in Lebanon blasts | 'Eleven killed' in Lebanon blasts |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| At least 11 people have been killed in explosions that hit two buses near the Lebanese capital, officials say. | At least 11 people have been killed in explosions that hit two buses near the Lebanese capital, officials say. |
| The two blasts came minutes apart near the mainly Christian town of Bikfaya, in the hills around the capital Beirut. | |
| One bus was completely destroyed.Police are investigating the cause of the blasts, believed to be two bombs. | |
| The explosions come at a time of acute political tension in Lebanon, and a day before the second anniversary of the killing of former PM Rafik Hariri. | The explosions come at a time of acute political tension in Lebanon, and a day before the second anniversary of the killing of former PM Rafik Hariri. |
| A large rally is planned in downtown Beirut on Wednesday to mark the assassination, in a massive bomb blast that killed 22 others besides Mr Hariri. | |
| Lebanese radio said the buses were carrying people to work through the village of Ain Alaq, just south of Bikfaya. | Lebanese radio said the buses were carrying people to work through the village of Ain Alaq, just south of Bikfaya. |
| Ambulances rushed casualties to hospital and urgent appeals for blood donations were broadcast by the media. | Ambulances rushed casualties to hospital and urgent appeals for blood donations were broadcast by the media. |
| "The explosion took place at 0930 (0730 GMT) in a minibus full of passengers and seven minutes later another explosion ripped through a second nearby minibus," said Lebanese state news agency. | |
| Tension | |
| Officials said the first bus exploded, causing damage and casualties, and as people rushed to the scene, a second explosion ripped through the second bus as it drove up behind it. | |
| Bikfaya is the ancestral home of the Gemayels, one of the most prominent Christian families in Lebanese politics. | Bikfaya is the ancestral home of the Gemayels, one of the most prominent Christian families in Lebanese politics. |
| Pierre Gemayel, a member of Lebanon's western-backed, anti-Syrian coalition government, was assassinated last November. | Pierre Gemayel, a member of Lebanon's western-backed, anti-Syrian coalition government, was assassinated last November. |
| Sectarian and political tensions are running high in Lebanon, erupting in clashes in January between supporters and opponents of the government. | Sectarian and political tensions are running high in Lebanon, erupting in clashes in January between supporters and opponents of the government. |
| Correspondents say that organisers from the different political factions in Lebanon have been working hard to avoid problems as government supporters planned to mark the anniversary of Hariri's death in the same Beirut square where opposition supporters have been holding a sit-in. | Correspondents say that organisers from the different political factions in Lebanon have been working hard to avoid problems as government supporters planned to mark the anniversary of Hariri's death in the same Beirut square where opposition supporters have been holding a sit-in. |
| Lebanon's political crisis arose when since six pro-Syrian ministers resigned in November, primarily over the endorsement by the cabinet of a UN tribunal to try suspects in the Hariri bombing. | Lebanon's political crisis arose when since six pro-Syrian ministers resigned in November, primarily over the endorsement by the cabinet of a UN tribunal to try suspects in the Hariri bombing. |