Bombing in Beirut kills five including former minister

A bombing in central Beirut has killed five people, including a senior aide to former Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri.

Reports say Mohammed Chatah and his driver were both killed in the powerful explosion early today in central Beirut.

Chatah served as finance minister in Hariri’s government, then as his senior adviser after Hariri lost the premiership in early 2011.

It says three other people were also killed and more than 15 wounded.