Lebanese MP dies in Beirut blast

13/06/2007| IslamWeb

An anti-Syrian MP is among at least 10 people killed in an explosion in Beirut's waterfront area.

Walid Eido died in the blast, in the mainly Muslim Manara neighborhood, his party's television station and officials said.

At least 10 other people were wounded, emergency services said.

Mr Eido is the third member of Lebanon's anti-Syria parliamentary majority to be killed in a bombing in the past two years.

A number of other high-profile anti-Syrian figures have been killed in Lebanon since 2005.

The latest blast comes two weeks after the UN Security Council voted to set up a tribunal to try suspects in the death of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, killed in a car bombing in Beirut two years ago.

Syria has been accused of involvement in attacks on its opponents in Lebanon, although Damascus has denied any role.

Lebanon's Future TV said Mr Eido, who was in his 60s, was killed along with one of his sons and two of his bodyguards.

Mr Eido was a member of the Future Movement of Mr Hariri's son, Saad.

The attack was swiftly condemned by Washington, an ally of the anti-Syrian government of Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.

"The United States deplores this latest attack in Beirut that led to the death of a respected Member of Parliament, Walid Eido and his son," national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe said in a statement.

Smoke and debris

The explosion occurred at 1730 (1430 GMT) in a side street between two popular beach resorts, the Long Beach and the Sporting Club.

Television pictures from the scene showed wreckage strewn across a wide area.

The smoldering, upturned remains of at least one vehicle could be seen amid chunks of debris and shattered glass from surrounding buildings.

A large black plume of smoke was visible rising from the site of the blast.

The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Beirut says there was chaos and panic while rescue workers and fire trucks tried to get to the area.

Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh blamed Syria for the attack, saying it was trying to wipe out the anti-Syrian majority in parliament.

"It is the same serial killer who wants to liquidate the parliamentary majority; it is a physical liquidation by the Syrian regime," Mr Hamadeh was quoted by AFP news agency as saying.

After the resignation last week of another coalition member, Mr Eido's death leaves the anti-Syrian bloc with a slim majority of just three members in parliament.

Wednesday's blast was the sixth explosion in just four weeks in Lebanon. Two people were killed in the previous blasts, all caused by bombs.

PHOTO CAPTION

Lebanese troops secure blast site