Army chief among four killed in Lebanon blast

Four people, including a top military general, were killed and several others injured when a large explosion rocked a Christian suburb east of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, early today, the state-run news agency said.

The agency said Brigadier General Francois Hajj, head of military operations in the army command, was killed in the blast, along with his bodyguard. His name had been mentioned as a strong candidate to succeed army commander Michel Suleiman, if he is elected president.