Lebanon explosion kills military general

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

BEIRUT, Lebanon - A car bomb attack killed one of Lebanon's top military generals and at least three others Wednesday, the military and state media said, putting even more pressure on the country's delicate political situation.

Brig. Gen. Francois Hajj, head of military operations in the army command, was killed in the explosion along with several other soldiers. Hajj had been mentioned as a candidate to succeed army commander Michel Suleiman if he is elected president.

The blast was the first attack of its kind against the Lebanese army, which is seen as the one force that can hold the country together as increasingly acrimonious relations between parliament's rival factions over the past several months have paralyzed the government.

"This morning, the criminal hand targeted head of army operations Brig. Gen. Francois Hajj with a bomb as he drove in his car opposite Baabda municipality, which led to his death along with a number of soldiers, and wounded others," the army command said in a statement.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071212/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_explosion

[maddezmom]

1. White House condemns assassination of Lebanese general

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Wednesday condemned the assassination of a Lebanese army general, saying it was a "crucial time" as Lebanon sought to select a new president.

"We strongly condemn the assassination," Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said. "This is a crucial time as Lebanon seeks to maintain a democratically elected government and select a new president."

He said President George W. Bush would "continue to stand with the Lebanese people as they counter those who attempt to undermine their security and freedom."

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071212/pl_nm/lebanon_usa_dc