Aug 13, 2008, 5:55 GMT
Beirut - An explosion hit a bus carrying passengers as well as military personnel Wednesday in the northern port city of Tripoli, killing at least seven people and wounding another 10, Lebanese security sources said.
According to hospital sources in Tripoli, some of the killed are Lebanese army soldiers. The sources expected the casualty toll to increase as some of the wounded are suffering from serious wounds.
The explosion occurred in the banking street of the Tal neighbourhood of Tripoli, the sources said.
Ambulances with wailing sirens were seen rushing to the area while Lebanese army soldiers cordoned off the area.
The sources said the explosion took place during rush hour as the street was full of people heading to work.
Tripoli has witnessed sectarian clashes in the past weeks that has killed and wounded dozens of people.
The city is also close to the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr el-Bared, which witnessed deadly clashes last year between Lebanese troops and members of the al-Qaeda inspired group Fatah al Islam.
The explosion took place as Lebanese President Michel Suleiman is set for a historic visit to Damascus, where the establishment of diplomatic ties will dominate his talks with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad.
The two-day visit, beginning on Wednesday, is the first by a Lebanese head of state since Syrian troops withdrew from Lebanon in 2005 following the assassination of Premier Rafik Hariri.
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