A bomb blast wounded pro-Syrian caretaker Lebanese Defence Minister Elias Al-Murr north of Beirut today.
Two people were killed in the blast, which targeted Mr Murr's motorcade in the busy Christian Antelias suburb. Security officials said 12 people were also wounded in the explosion.
The attack is the latest in a series of bombings and assassinations in Lebanon since the February
killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. It is also the first to target a pro-Syrian figure.
The officials said Mr Murr suffered facial wounds and a broken hand and was rushed to hospital along with one of his aides, who was badly wounded in the attack.
Investigators cordoned off the area of the explosion, which gouged a crater several metres across and destroyed five cars in the wealthy hillside area overlooking the Mediterranean.
The wife of the Mexican ambassador was slightly wounded in the explosion that was near the Mexican and Bolivian embassies, embassy sources said. She did not require hospital treatment.
The latest explosion occurred as Prime Minister-designate Fouad Siniora tries to form Lebanon's first government since Syrian troops withdrew from the country in April.