Running gunbattles raged in parts of Beirut after the leader of Hezbollah accused Lebanon's Western-backed government of declaring war on his Shiite militant group. At least four people were killed and eight wounded in the capital.

A leading Palestinian militant has been killed in a car bombing in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

A seven-storey building collapsed in Beirut today, with first reports indicating scores of casualties, security officials said.