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| Blast kills Lebanon army general | Blast kills Lebanon army general |
| (1 day later) | |
| The Lebanese army's chief of operations, Gen Francois al-Hajj, has been killed in a car bomb attack. | The Lebanese army's chief of operations, Gen Francois al-Hajj, has been killed in a car bomb attack. |
| Two other people died in the blast in the Christian town of Baabda, close to the presidential palace in Beirut. | Two other people died in the blast in the Christian town of Baabda, close to the presidential palace in Beirut. |
| Gen Hajj had been tipped to become army chief if Gen Michel Suleiman becomes president in an effort to resolve a lengthy political crisis. | Gen Hajj had been tipped to become army chief if Gen Michel Suleiman becomes president in an effort to resolve a lengthy political crisis. |
| Parliament has failed to elect a president and the opposition refuses to recognise the elected government. | Parliament has failed to elect a president and the opposition refuses to recognise the elected government. |
| While the pro-West ruling bloc and pro-Syrian opposition, led by Hezbollah, agree Gen Suleiman should succeed former President Emile Lahoud to break a political impasse, the factions cannot agree on the formation of a new government. | While the pro-West ruling bloc and pro-Syrian opposition, led by Hezbollah, agree Gen Suleiman should succeed former President Emile Lahoud to break a political impasse, the factions cannot agree on the formation of a new government. |
| Gen Hajj was chief of operations when Lebanon's army fought Islamic militants from Fatah al-Islam in Nahr al-Bared refugee camp earlier this year. | Gen Hajj was chief of operations when Lebanon's army fought Islamic militants from Fatah al-Islam in Nahr al-Bared refugee camp earlier this year. |
| About 400 people, mainly militants and soldiers, died in the violence, and some 40,000 people were displaced. | About 400 people, mainly militants and soldiers, died in the violence, and some 40,000 people were displaced. |
| 'Criminal hand' | 'Criminal hand' |
| Security officials said Gen Hajj had left his home by car, probably en route to the nearby ministry of defence, just minutes before the blast. | Security officials said Gen Hajj had left his home by car, probably en route to the nearby ministry of defence, just minutes before the blast. |
| It is believed that both he and his bodyguard were killed instantly. | It is believed that both he and his bodyguard were killed instantly. |
| The large explosion, which occurred at 0710 (0510GMT), left the area littered with the wreckage of burned-out vehicles, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from the scene. | The large explosion, which occurred at 0710 (0510GMT), left the area littered with the wreckage of burned-out vehicles, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from the scene. |
| The army command issued a statement blaming "the criminal hand" for the attack. | The army command issued a statement blaming "the criminal hand" for the attack. |
| It said the army had sealed off the area and had begun an investigation. | It said the army had sealed off the area and had begun an investigation. |
| Some pro-Western politicians blamed Syria, which has been implicated in some attacks against anti-Syrian Lebanese politicians in recent years. Syria has denied involvement. | Some pro-Western politicians blamed Syria, which has been implicated in some attacks against anti-Syrian Lebanese politicians in recent years. Syria has denied involvement. |
| Lebanese telecommunications minister Marwan Hamadeh accused the "Syrian-Iranian axis" of attacking the military, "the only body in Lebanon who can balance the power of Hezbollah and other militias in the country". | Lebanese telecommunications minister Marwan Hamadeh accused the "Syrian-Iranian axis" of attacking the military, "the only body in Lebanon who can balance the power of Hezbollah and other militias in the country". |
| However, Hezbollah , which is backed by Syria, and its Christian ally Michel Aoun, both denounced the attack. | However, Hezbollah , which is backed by Syria, and its Christian ally Michel Aoun, both denounced the attack. |
| Gen Hajj had been tipped to become head of the armyMr Aoun said he had supported Gen Hajj to succeed Gen Suleiman as army commander. | Gen Hajj had been tipped to become head of the armyMr Aoun said he had supported Gen Hajj to succeed Gen Suleiman as army commander. |
| Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem condemned what he described as a "criminal attack", Reuters news agency reported. | Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem condemned what he described as a "criminal attack", Reuters news agency reported. |
| "We condemn any action that threatens Lebanon," he said. | "We condemn any action that threatens Lebanon," he said. |
| An unnamed Syrian official quoted by the state news agency, Sana, said "Israel and its agents in Lebanon" were the beneficiaries of what it described as a crime against "a Lebanese patriot who believed in the army, defended the resistance and worked for a united Lebanon". | An unnamed Syrian official quoted by the state news agency, Sana, said "Israel and its agents in Lebanon" were the beneficiaries of what it described as a crime against "a Lebanese patriot who believed in the army, defended the resistance and worked for a united Lebanon". |
| Secure area | Secure area |
| The US said it "strongly condemned" the attack. | The US said it "strongly condemned" the attack. |
| President George W Bush would "continue to stand with the Lebanese people as they counter those who attempt to undermine their security and freedom", a spokesman for the US government's National Security Council said. | President George W Bush would "continue to stand with the Lebanese people as they counter those who attempt to undermine their security and freedom", a spokesman for the US government's National Security Council said. |
| The suspected bombing took place in a high security area, which is home not only to the presidential palace, but to the ministry of defence, several embassies and homes of senior politicians. | The suspected bombing took place in a high security area, which is home not only to the presidential palace, but to the ministry of defence, several embassies and homes of senior politicians. |
| LEBANESE ASSASSINATIONS Feb 2005: Ex-PM Rafik HaririApril 2005: MP Bassel FleihanJune 2005: Anti-Syria journalist Samir KassirJune 2005: Ex-Communist leader George HawiDec 2005: Anti-Syria MP Gebran TueniNov 2006: Industry Minister Pierre GemayelJune 2007: Anti-Syria MP Walid EidoSep 2007: Anti-Syria MP Antoine GhanimDec 2007: Army Gen Francois al-Hajj In pictures: Beirut blastBombing deepens anxieties The fact that someone was able to kill such a high level army commander in an area like that suggests that they are very organised, very capable and utilising lots of intelligence, our correspondent says. | LEBANESE ASSASSINATIONS Feb 2005: Ex-PM Rafik HaririApril 2005: MP Bassel FleihanJune 2005: Anti-Syria journalist Samir KassirJune 2005: Ex-Communist leader George HawiDec 2005: Anti-Syria MP Gebran TueniNov 2006: Industry Minister Pierre GemayelJune 2007: Anti-Syria MP Walid EidoSep 2007: Anti-Syria MP Antoine GhanimDec 2007: Army Gen Francois al-Hajj In pictures: Beirut blastBombing deepens anxieties The fact that someone was able to kill such a high level army commander in an area like that suggests that they are very organised, very capable and utilising lots of intelligence, our correspondent says. |
| He says it is questionable whether the Fatah al-Islam militants would have the means to carry out such a precisely targeted attack. | He says it is questionable whether the Fatah al-Islam militants would have the means to carry out such a precisely targeted attack. |
| There have been a number of high profile political assassinations in Lebanon in the last two years, the majority of them anti-Syrian campaigners. | There have been a number of high profile political assassinations in Lebanon in the last two years, the majority of them anti-Syrian campaigners. |
| Gen Hajj's political allegiances are not known. Senior military officials have not been previously targeted and analysts say the military is seen as a unifying power in the politically fragmented country. | Gen Hajj's political allegiances are not known. Senior military officials have not been previously targeted and analysts say the military is seen as a unifying power in the politically fragmented country. |
| With Lebanon in the grips of the worst political crisis since the country's long civil war ended in 1990, our correspondent says this is exactly the kind of tension-raising incident which it is feared could trigger much wider unrest. | With Lebanon in the grips of the worst political crisis since the country's long civil war ended in 1990, our correspondent says this is exactly the kind of tension-raising incident which it is feared could trigger much wider unrest. |
| The pro-Syrian Mr Lahoud left office on 24 November and legislators have repeatedly failed to elect a new president. | The pro-Syrian Mr Lahoud left office on 24 November and legislators have repeatedly failed to elect a new president. |
| On Monday members of parliament postponed their vote to elect a successor for an eighth time. | On Monday members of parliament postponed their vote to elect a successor for an eighth time. |
| They are divided on the make-up of the new government. | They are divided on the make-up of the new government. |
| There is also said to be a dispute over how to amend the constitution to allow a senior civil servant to be elected. | There is also said to be a dispute over how to amend the constitution to allow a senior civil servant to be elected. |
| Under Article 49 of the current constitution, senior civil servants like Gen Suleiman are barred from becoming president within two years of stepping down. | Under Article 49 of the current constitution, senior civil servants like Gen Suleiman are barred from becoming president within two years of stepping down. |