Beirut car bomb kills 5 including former finance minister

Security forces and firemen at scene of car bomb explosion that rocked central Beirut A huge car bomb rocked central Beirut on Friday, killing five people including an influential member of a coalition opposed to the Syrian regime, and leaving cars ablaze and buildings wrecked. State news agency NNA said that Mohammad Chatah, 62, died as he headed to a meeting of the March 14 coalition at the mansion of ex-prime minister Saad Hariri, in the city centre. Dozens were injured.
Footage broadcast by Future TV showed people on fire, others lying on the ground, some bloodied, as well as the mangled remains of a burning car. Some people were seen walking around dazed and shocked.
Ambulances as well as security reinforcements rushed to the stricken area, where large crowds had gathered.
The blast sent thick black smoke scudding across the capital's skyline and over the Serail, a massive complex that houses the offices of the Lebanese prime minister.
NNA news agency gave an initial toll of five people killed and more than 50 wounded in the blast, and said that more than 10 buildings in the area were badly damaged.
The Serail, which sits atop a man-built hill and towers over a vibrant city centre, was destroyed in the 1975-1990 civil war.
It houses the parliament building, banks, modern glass buildings, shops, cafes and restaurants.
"We were opening our store when we heard the blast. It was really loud. We are used to blasts in Lebanon but not in this area. Now we are not safe anywhere," said Mohammad, 23, a shop attendant in the stricken area.
Ziad, a 37-year-old businessman whose office is located near the scene of the attack, told AFP: "Chatah was a really respectful person. He was very nice. I was so shocked he has been killed."
Asked whether he felt safe in the country, which has suffered a string of explosions in recent months, Ziad said: "If I had the chance to take my wife and children somewhere else, I would."
The attack was a grim reminder that the violence that tore Lebanon apart during the civil war is never far away, and comes as a war is raging across the border in Syria.
Chatah, an influential economist and former minister of finance and Lebanon's envoy to Washington, had served as adviser to ex-premiers Fuad Siniora and his successor Saad Hariri.
Source: AFP