Suicide bombings claim four lives

BEIRUT (AP):

Two suicide bombers blew up their cars near an Iranian cultural centre in Beirut yesterday, killing at least four people and wounding scores, in the latest in a string of deadly attacks targeting strongholds of the Shiite militant group Hezbollah and its allies. An al-Qaida-linked group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was retaliation for Hezbollah's involvement in the Syrian war alongside President Bashar Assad's forces.

The morning blasts in the Bir Hassan district set cars and trees ablaze and shattered the windows of nearby buildings as the wounded, including children, were loaded on stretchers into fire engines and ambulances.

explosions

Rahmeh Abboud, a 20-year-old student, said she was in a passenger van when she heard the explosions. The driver immediately stopped the car and told everybody to get out.

"The explosions were very strong, the ground shook. I came here and it was like the world had turned upside down," she said.

The Lebanese army said the bombers were driving BMW and Mercedes cars, which were packed with explosives and mortar shells to maximise the damage.

Health Minister Wael Abu Faour said the blasts killed four people and wounded more than 100.