Officials said the bombing, which stemmed from a garbage bin, took place
prior to a reception for U.S. ambassador Jeffrey Feltman in a Beirut hotel.
Feltman, an outspoken critic of Syria, plans to leave Lebanon at the end of
January.
Lebanese sources said the SUV had been ordered to secure a route meant
to be used by Feltman. In the end, the reception was canceled.
"The U.S. embassy in Lebanon has limited movement of its personnel after
an explosion north of Beirut," the U.S. embassy in Beirut said. "The embassy
is monitoring the situation closely and reminds all Americans residing in
Lebanon to maintain a high level of vigilance, especially when planning
travel. Americans are also advised to avoid popular gathering spots and to
report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement officials."
This was the first known strike on the U.S. embassy in Beirut since
1983. During that year, 17 Americans, including CIA officials, were killed
in a suicide bomb attack.
"We are going to take a look at what implications, if any, there are for
our security posture in Beirut," McCormack said.
Officials said the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security
would investigate the bombing along with Lebanese authorities. They said the
U.S. embassy in Beirut was reviewing security measures.
"To the degree that there is any thought of intimidation in an attack of
this kind, the United States will of course not be deterred in its efforts
to help the Lebanese people, to help the democratic forces in Lebanon, to
help Lebanon resist foreign interference in their affairs," U.S. Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice said.
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