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Bomb Targets Lebanese Bank Embroiled In Crisis Over Hizballah Finances


A bomb has exploded near the headquarters of a bank in central Beirut that is involved in a dispute over how to deal with Hizballah finances.

Lebanon's Red Cross said two people were injured, but there were no fatalities from the explosion outside the headquarters of the Lebanese Blom Bank.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack.

Lebanon's banking sector has been embroiled in crisis since the United States passed a law requiring banks to target the finances of the Shi'ite political and militant group Hizballah.

Hizballah's parliamentary bloc has criticized the country's central bank over its push for commercial banks in Lebanon to comply with the U.S. law.

Blom Bank is one of the financial institutions that has closed accounts belonging to people suspected of having ties to Hizballah.

Hizballah had no immediate comment about the blast.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AP

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