Car blast kills ex-party chief in Lebanon

George Hawi, a former Communist Party chief who was a harsh critic of Syrian meddling in Lebanese affairs, was killed by a bomb as he rode in his car in Beirut today.

The explosion occurred in the car as it was moving, police officials said. Hawi, a Christian, frequently spoke out against Syrian intelligence and interference in Lebanese affairs.

The blast came after the June 2 murder of prominent anti-Syrian journalist Samir Kassir, who was killed when a bomb exploded under the driver’s seat of his car.