A senior Lebanese general and a number of his bodyguards have been killed in a car bomb attack east of Beirut.
Brigadier General Francois al-Hajj was head of army operations and was a leading contender to take over as army chief from General Michel Suleiman if he is elected president.
The bomb exploded in Baabda, the site of Lebanon's presidential palace on the outskirts of the capital.
Earlier this week the speaker of Lebanon's parliament further postponed the presidential election to next Monday.
It is eighth delay of a vote repeatedly put off over differences between the anti-Syrian governing coalition and the opposition backed by Damascus.
Lebanese politicians from the Western-backed ruling coalition and the Hezbollah-led opposition denounced the attack, as did the United States, France, Germany, Syria and Iran.
A White House spokesman said President Bush would 'continue to stand with the Lebanese people as they counter those who attempt to undermine their security and freedom.'
Security sources said 35 kg of explosives packed into an olive-green BMW car were detonated by remote control as Mr Hajj's four-wheel-drive vehicle drove by.
No group claimed responsibility for Mr Hajj's killing, which followed eight deadly attacks on anti-Syrian politicians and journalists. T
Mr Hajj, a father of three, will be buried at his hometown on Friday.
