Lebanese General Killed in Blast

An explosion outside of the Lebanese presidential palace near Beirut has killed at least four people, including a prominent general. Gen. Francois al-Hajj had been slated to become army chief if the current leader, Michel Suleiman, becomes president. The army believes that the bomb was a coordinated attack on Hajj, who was in his car en route to the ministry of defense, BBC reports.

The explosion occurred in a highly guarded area, suggesting that the attack was planned in advance and that the perpetrators are well organized, officials said. Lebanon has been deadlocked for months over the election of its next president, but the pro-Western ruling faction and the Syrian-supported opposition had agreed to back Suleiman as the next head of state. Today's attack could jeopardize that compromise. (More Lebanon stories.)