Lebanon blast hurts scores

BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 22 (UPI) -- A blast in the Lebanese capital of Beirut has hurt several people, news reports said Friday.

The explosion came hours after U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a surprise visit to the city to reinforce U.S. support for the new government.

Gen. Ashraf Rifi, head of Lebanese internal security, said an explosive device had been placed under a car in the popular Rue Monot, known for its nightlife.

The BBC said the car was destroyed in the blast.

The country has been the scene of bombings since the Feb. 14 killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who was opposed to the Syrian military presence in the country.

After his death, international pressure in the form of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559 resulted in Syrian withdrawal from the country after three decades.

Other prominent anti-Syrian politicians and journalists have also been killed since then.