Two persons killed in Jonyeh prior to the return of Michael Aoun
Lebanon, Politics, 5/7/2005

At least two persons were killed and other 16 injured, according to a final outcome of medical sources in an explosion which took place on Friday evening in the Christian coastal city of Jonyeh, 20 km to the north of Beirut.

The explosion took place near the headquarters of the "Free National Trend" which is led by Maj. Gen. Michael Aoun who stands against the Syrian presence in Lebanon and who will be returning today (Saturday) to Lebanon after 15 years spent in exile in France.

A Lebanese security source said that the explosion took place in front of one of the gates of the "church of Mart Yuhanna" near old and deserted houses in Jonyeh port and only resulted in simple material losses. Witnesses said the explosion was heard in the hills surrounding the area which has Christians as a majority.

Several bombs exploded in Christian areas since the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri on February 14, as the country had entered in its worst political crisis since the civil war 1975- 1990.

The explosion took place while the supporters of the former Lebanese army leader Michael Aoun are preparing to celebrate his coming back from his exile in France expected to be in Beirut within hours.

Aoun's return comes following a decision by the Lebanese judiciary to freeze a warrant of arrest against him on violating "relations between Lebanon and a sisterly country," in remarks to Syria. A Lebanese judicial source said that the criminal courts decided "to halt the warrant of arrest issued in absentia against Aoun and to freeze its implications and to postpone the session of trial until July 2005, which means that judicial suing for Aoun is still valid but not to arrest him upon his arrival.

Previous Stories:
  Lebanese judiciary freezes warrant of arrest against Aoun, elections using 2000 law   (5/6/2005)
  Lebanese army commander stresses coordination with syria   (5/6/2005)
  UN security council calls for holding the Lebanese elections at due time   (5/5/2005)

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