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| Blast kills Lebanon army general | Blast kills Lebanon army general |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| At least four people, including a Lebanese army general, have died in an explosion near the presidential palace on the outskirts of Beirut. | At least four people, including a Lebanese army general, have died in an explosion near the presidential palace on the outskirts of Beirut. |
| Dozens were also injured in the blast in the Christian town of Baabda. | Dozens were also injured in the blast in the Christian town of Baabda. |
| Gen Francois al-Hajj was tipped to become army chief if Gen Michel Suleiman takes over as president. | Gen Francois al-Hajj was tipped to become army chief if Gen Michel Suleiman takes over as president. |
| Lebanon is in a deep political crisis. Parliament has failed to elect a president and the opposition refuses to recognise elected government. | Lebanon is in a deep political crisis. Parliament has failed to elect a president and the opposition refuses to recognise 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. |
| The BBC's Jim Muir at the scene of the blast says it looks like the incident was the result of a bomb and that it was a targeted attack aimed at Gen Hajj. | The BBC's Jim Muir at the scene of the blast says it looks like the incident was the result of a bomb and that it was a targeted attack aimed at Gen Hajj. |
| Security officials said Gen Hajj had left his home by car just minutes earlier, probably en route to the nearby ministry of defence. | Security officials said Gen Hajj had left his home by car just minutes earlier, probably en route to the nearby ministry of defence. |
| 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), has left the area littered with the wreckage of burned-out vehicles, our correspondent says. | The large explosion, which occurred at 0710 (0510GMT), has left the area littered with the wreckage of burned-out vehicles, our correspondent says. |
| High security zone | |
| The army command issued a statement concerning the incident: | The army command issued a statement concerning the incident: |
| Gen Hajj had been tipped to become head of the army"This morning, the criminal hand targeted head of army operations Brig Gen Francois Hajj with a bomb as he drove in his car opposite Baabda municipality, which led to his death along with a number of soldiers, and wounded others." | |
| "The army sealed off the area and has started investigating," it added. | "The army sealed off the area and has started investigating," it added. |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Political vacuum | |
| 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. |
| 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 blast | |
| Gen Hajj's political allegiances are not known, and senior military officials have not been previously targeted. | Gen Hajj's political allegiances are not known, and senior military officials have not been previously targeted. |
| 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. |
| Did you witness the explosion or are you in the area? Use the form below to send us your accounts, some of which may be published. | Did you witness the explosion or are you in the area? Use the form below to send us your accounts, some of which may be published. |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via mobile please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via mobile please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. |
| If you have a large file you can upload here. | If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |