A police statement said the parcel was found before dawn.

A police sapper checked the parcel and found out it was made up of 10 sticks of fire crackers and an alarm clock, the statement added.

Police investigators copied finger prints from the whole package and an investigation was launched, the statement added without elaboration.

Aoun Blames Government

Aoun's political organization, the Free Patriotic Movement, issued a statement claiming the package was instead an "explosive charge", and was planted after a meeting of the movement's local leadership.

It said an explosives expert "defused the charge."

The statement criticized Premier Fouad Saniora's government of failing to shoulder its responsibilities in providing security for the citizens.

The FPM is part of the Hizbullah-led opposition that has been trying in vain to topple the Siniora government.

Source: Naharnet, Tayyar