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17 killed, 40 wounded in Lebanon explosion
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-13 21:02

BEIRUT - 17 people, including 10 army soldiers, were killed and some 40 others wounded on Wednesday morning in an explosion in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli, LBCTV reported.


Residents inspect a damaged bus following a bomb blast in the port city of Tripoli in northern Lebanon August 13, 2008. A bomb targeted a bus in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli on Wednesday. [Xinhua] 

The blast occurred hours before Lebanese President Michel Suleiman's arrival in Damascus on a groundbreaking visit to Syria for talks that would redefine ties between the two close neighbors.

According to the report, the explosives were placed near a bus station in the Banks Street in Tripoli, which is mostly used by army soldiers to take the bus for their working positions.

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LBC TV report said that the explosives were placed among the belongings of the soldiers who were waiting to take the bus.

"The Lebanese army is targeted," Moustafa Alloush, a lawmaker from Tripoli told LBC.

Tripoli has recently witnessed fierce sectarian clashes between Sunni pro-government and Alawaits opposition supporters, leaving at least 23 people killed.

The Lebanese army has been deployed to disengage fighters, and was ordered to use force against any violation.

Meanwhile, the army fought deadly battles in May 2007 against Islamic militants of Fatah El Islam in the northern Palestinian camp of Naher El Baried.

Most of the Islamist fighters were killed or arrested, except for their leader Shaker Al Abssi. Statements by the organization vowed to revenge from the Lebanese army.

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