LEBANON:It sounded like a clap of thunder until the screaming started. Layyal Khoury leapt out of bed and ran outside to find stricken passengers struggling to escape from a burned-out bus.
"Then the second bus came round the corner and blew up - that was when we realised it was a bomb attack, not an accident," said Ms Khoury, who lives in a flat beneath the Chez George juice bar where she works.
The two bus bombs near the town of Bikfaya, in the Christian heartland north of Beirut, killed at least three people and wounded 20. And they jolted a fearful country on the eve of the two-year anniversary of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri's assassination, which pitched Lebanon headlong into a political crisis that shows no signs of resolution.
Tension has run high since street clashes last month between supporters and opponents of the western-backed government killed nine people. The political rift has polarised Sunnis and Shias in particular.
A mass rally is expected to go ahead today in central Martyrs' Square to commemorate Mr Hariri's killing, despite fears of friction with opposition supporters camped on the other side of a barbed wire fence since December 1st, in a campaign to topple the anti-Syrian government.
Saad Hariri, son of the dead Sunni figurehead and leader of the parliamentary majority, said the bombs were intended to frighten people away from the memorial. He reiterated the call for an international court to be established soon to try suspects in his father's killing. He and many others blame Syria, which denies involvement, and say the opposition wants to thwart the tribunal.
Security forces and troops cordoned off the area where the skeleton of a white bus stood with its roof ripped open. Pools of blood lay on the road. Some 30 metres behind was the twisted wreckage of the other bus.
Bombings have shaken Lebanon periodically for the past two years. But apart from several late-night attacks on deserted commercial centres, they targeted anti-Syrian journalists and politicians, most recently industry minister Pierre Gemayel, who was from Bikfaya, in November.
Yesterday morning's attacks were the first for years that appeared aimed at killing large numbers of civilians. Most passengers were going to work or university in the capital.
"We're terrified to leave to go anywhere," whispered a tearful Marie-Therese Saliba, waiting at the Dr Samir Serhal hospital for news of her friend's mother, whose leg was ripped off by the blast.
"Before, only politicians were targeted, now it's everyone."
Heavy rain turned the mountain roads to rivers and a grey fog shrouded the surrounding hills. Pro-government billboards lined the road to the capital, many featuring the late Mr Hariri flanked by other "martyrs" of the past two years.
Opinions at the hospital reflected the split in the country.
"This is a terrorist message to the Lebanese not to go down to the memorial tomorrow," said Kalil Gardaq.
Others criticised the government for failing to keep Lebanon safe after coming to power with promises of security after Syria's decades-long domination of the country. "The interior ministry needs to take responsibility," said a visitor who gave his name only as Michel, his voice rising in anger. "We've had maybe 15 bombings and they haven't solved a single one."
Lebanon's Pro-Syrian president, Émile Lahoud, said the attacks were to thwart efforts to resolve the stand-off.
Saudi Arabia and Iran, which back the government and Hizbullah respectively, are holding talks. Arab League secretary general Amr Moussa is expected in Beirut any day now.
"Every time the possibility of practical solutions looms on the horizon between the Lebanese factions to strengthen their unity, the enemies of Lebanon rush to commit a new crime against innocents," Mr Lahoud said.
Many Lebanese believe an unseen hand is stirring up sectarian strife in their tiny country, but differ over whether it comes from Iran or the United States. Both have a strong influence.
At the grave of Mr Hariri yesterday, a busload of pupils from a school he funded added a wreath to a mountain of white flowers. Mourners in black mouthed silent prayers as candles in damp paper bags adorned Martyrs' Square.