Sunday, March 27 2005 10:24 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Beirut: Two Indian workers were killed in a huge car-bomb explosion that rocked an industrial area in east Beirut.

The blast is the third in a Christian district in a week and was certain to heighten fears of renewed communal strife at a moment when Lebanon is paralysed politically.

Agency reports said that Indian workers accounted for the fatalities. Eight people were hurt, including a Sri Lankan.

A police officer said that the blast, which took place mid-evening yesterday (Mar26, 2005) was caused by a car bomb near the district of Dekouaneh, east of Beirut, set several buildings ablaze and did extensive material damage.

The scene was described by one witness as "an apocalyptic sight" as fire engines and ambulances rushed to the scene under a huge cloud of black smoke.

Beirut has been jittery since 11 people were injured when a bomb exploded beneath a car in the Christian suburb of Jdeide on March 19, an attack that was followed by another bomb blast in Kaslik north of Beirut on Wednesday (Mar 23, 2005) that killed three people, including two Indian workers.

The previous two explosions were blamed by the Lebanese Opposition on Syrian-backed Lebanese security agents determined to stir up sectarian strife at a time when Lebanon is without a permanent Government and as Syrian troops withdraw from the country under intense international pressure.

"It's a provocation against civil peace," said Opposition leader Walid Jumblatt of the latest incident, the third since the February 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.