By DPA
Beirut : At least four people, including Brigadier Francois al-Haj of the Lebanese Army, were killed and several wounded Wednesday morning in an explosion in eastern Beirut near the presidential palace, the Red Cross said.
An army source said al-Haj was one of the candidates to succeed the army commander General Michel Suleiman, who has been nominated by the ruling coalition and opposition to contest in the presidential elections in Lebanon.
Al-Haj had led the military operation in northern Lebanon during the summer that pitted the army against the Muslim fundamentalist movement Fatah al-Islam, the military source said, adding that either Fatah al-Islam was behind the blast or the attack was politically motivated.
The explosives were believed to have been placed under a car, the police said.
The blast took place during rush hour in the Christian area of Baabda, near a number of schools.
At least 10 cars were set ablaze by the explosion, which took place in front of a municipal government building.