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| 'Eleven die' in Lebanon bus bombs | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Bomb blasts have killed at least 11 people on two buses near the Lebanese capital Beirut, police said. | |
| They exploded minutes apart near the mainly Christian town of Bikfaya, in the hills to the north of Beirut. | |
| One vehicle was completely blown apart. Police sealed off the area and collected evidence from the wreckage. | |
| The bombings 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 people besides Mr Hariri. | |
| Lebanese radio said the buses were carrying people to work through the village of Ain Alaq, just south of Bikfaya. Ten people were reported hurt in the blasts. | |
| 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. | "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 | 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. | 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. |