An Opel car exploded in a parking lot off the main street. According to the director general of internal security, General Ashraf Rifi, the bomb was placed underneath a parked car, and so far one person was reportedly killed in the explosion.

The explosion took place just before 10pm, just as the busy Friday party goers started to fill the many pubs, clubs and bars.

A Ya Libnan correspondent on the scene reports that the explosion took place near Ginger restaurant, which is close to the famous Crystal nightclub. Ambulance, police and the fire brigade rushed to the scene, and the injury count is up to 7.

The explosion came just hours after US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice's surprise visit to Beirut.

Sources: Ya Libnan, Yahoo