Four killed in Lebanon blast

An explosion caused several cars to burst into flames in a Christian suburb east of the Lebanese capital Beirut today.

A local television station, LBC, said four people were killed and 20 wounded.

Security officials could not immediately confirm the casualties, but Lebanon has been rocked by a series of mysterious bombings in recent years, many of them targeting anti-Syrian figures.

The explosion occurred in the Sin el-Fil district, but the cause was not immediately known.

Television footage showed severe damage in nearby buildings and several cars on fire. The blast sent a cloud of grey smoke over the area.

It was not clear who this latest explosion targeted.

The area houses the home of former Lebanese President Amin Gemayeh, whose son, Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, was shot dead in November.

In June, a blast killed Lebanese Parliament member Walid Eido.