“All Lebanese political groups should thus recognize the fact that the disruption of Lebanon’s security and stability, which is of paramount significance in the Middle-East, is a new caprice after the failure of the Americans’ and Zionists’ conspiracies to change the political structure in Syria,” Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi said on Friday.
“The involvement of Zionists in Beirut blast (on Friday) is beyond any doubt. The Zionist regime (of Israel) has hatched numerous plots to disrupt Lebanon’s internal security, and seeks to create discord and fuel civil war in Lebanon,” he added.
A heavy explosion that rocked the capital Beirut on Friday targeted the convoy of former Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah, who is ex-Prime Minister Saad Hariri's advisor.
An identification paper showing the name of ex-Minister Shatah was located in the area of the blast, Naharnet reported.
The bodies of Shatah and his bodyguard were retrieved from the scene and transferred to Rafik Hariri University Hospital.
The blast that hit Starco area in downtown Beirut near Bank Audi-SAL killed five people and at least 71 others wounded.
Caretaker PM Najib Miqati swiftly called for an emergency meeting for the Higher Council for Disasters.
Smoke was seen rising in the downtown Beirut area.
According to media reports, the explosion rocked near the Audeh Bank near Starco in downtown Beirut.
A meeting for the March 14 alliance was scheduled to be held at the Center House in downtown.
The blast, according to media reports, was caused by a booby-trapped car.
Several ambulances rushed to the scene as civil defense teams battled fire that erupted in the area of the explosion.
TV footage showed a car on fire and dead bodies lying near it.
People were seen running to rescue the injured as a helicopter was seen hovering over the area of the blast.
Security forces were seen opening fire in the air to disperse people gathered near the blast.
The blast caused a major dysfunction in mobile phone communications.
Beirut has been hit by several deadly attacks over the past months, including twin suicide bombings in November that targeted the Iranian embassy and bombings in the bastion of Hezbollah in the South of the capital over the summer.
