The US has called for a full investigation into the killing of a veteran Lebanese politician, who had recently become critical of Syria.

Former Communist Party leader George Hawi died when his car blew up as he drove in Beirut on Tuesday.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the murder was part of a pattern of targeted political assassinations to intimidate the Lebanese people.

Syria's information minister said Damascus condemned the killing.

'Knock it off'

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said earlier on Tuesday she did not know who was behind the attack.

But Ms Rice said that Damascus was contributing to "an atmosphere of instability" in Lebanon and should, as she put it, "knock it off".

George Hawi's death follows the killings of prominent anti-Syrian journalist Samir Kassir and former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The latest attack came a day after the anti-Syrian bloc's won parliamentary elections - the first since Damascus ended its 29-year occupation of Lebanon.

Syria's withdrawal followed protests and international pressure sparked by the assassination of Mr Hariri in February.

PHOTO CAPTION

A member of Lebanon's Communist Party hangs pictures of his former chief near the scene of the blast