Lebanese MP dies in bombing

An anti-Syrian Lebanese MP and at least six other people have been killed in a car bomb in Beirut.

Antoine Ghanem of the Christian Phalange party, was killed by the blast in a Christian district of the Lebanese capital.

At least 19 other people were wounded by the bomb in the busy commercial and residential area of Sin el-Fil.

Several cars were set ablaze and rescue workers carried bodies from the scene in eastern Beirut.

Mr Ghanem was a member of the anti-Syrian governing coalition which has been locked in a power struggle since November.

The bombing comes just six days before parliament is due to elect a new president.

Eight anti-Syrian figures have been killed in Lebanon since 2005 in a series of assassinations that started with the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

In June this year, anti-Syrian lawmaker Walid Eido and nine other people died in a car bomb attack.

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