BEIRUT, Lebanon – A powerful bomb exploded in a Christian neighborhood of eastern Beirut late Friday, killing at least one person and wounding 23, officials said. It was the latest in a series of bomb attacks to rock Lebanon’s capital. The bomb detonated just before midnight and heavily damaged the balconies and facades of several buildings along a street and destroyed at least two cars.Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi, commander of the Internal Security Forces, said the explosive had been placed in a bag that was hidden between two cars, and detonated with a timing device.The Lebanese Broadcasting Corp. correspondent at the scene said the explosion went off near a coffee shop killing its owner and wounding several people who were at his place.Wounded people could be seen carried to ambulances that rushed to the scene. Officials at Jitawi and St. Georges Hospitals said one person died and 23 others were wounded. For more pictures pls click "READ MORE" (pictures are being updated)

 The blast came days ahead of an expected visit by a U.N. investigator to Damascus to interview top Syrian officials over the deadliest of Lebanon’s recent bomb attacks — the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.Many Lebanese have expressed worries that bombings could increase as the investigation pushes forward. The U.N. team has already accused four senior Lebanese security officials who carried out Syrian policy in the country.

Since Hariri’s death, there have been a string of bombs set off in public places, including shopping centers and tourist streets — many of them in mainly Christian districts. In the most recent explosion, an Aug. 22 bomb wounded five people. No one has been arrested in the blasts.

An anti-Syrian legislator accused the remnants of Syria’s security apparatus of being behind Friday’s blast. "The remains of the Syrian and Lebanese security regime are still present and they are behind this act," said Atef Majdalani.

Another anti-Syrian legislator Michael Pharaoun said "it is for sure a message against stability in Lebanon." He added that it comes before a planned conference on Lebanon in New York Monday.

Many in Lebanon accuse Syria in the killings of Hariri and other anti-Damascus figures, a charge Syria denies.

Syria controlled Lebanon for years and had troops in the country for 29 years, until April, when it was forced to withdraw them, in part because of huge protests over Hariri’s slaying

 

 Lebanese soldiers and civilians inspect the damage caused by a blast in the Ashrafiyeh district in Beirut September 16, 2005. A car bomb exploded in a mainly Christian neighbourhood of Lebanese capital late on Friday, wounding at least four people ,a senior security sources said. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi

 

 Lebanese civil defence personnel carry a wounded man on a stretcher after a car bomb blast in the Ashrafiyeh district in Beirut September 16, 2005. A car bomb exploded in a mainly Christian neighbourhood of Lebanese capital late on Friday, wounding at least four people ,a senior security source said. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi

 

 Lebanese policemen walk near the wreckage of a car after a blast in the Ashrafiyeh district in Beirut September 16, 2005. A car bomb exploded in a mainly Christian neighbourhood of the Lebanese capital Beirut late on Friday,

Lebanese policemen inspect a damaged car after a bomb exploded in Beirut, Lebanon, late Friday, Sept. 16, 2005. A bomb exploded in East Beirut, in a predominantly Christian neighborhood, late Friday, killing at least one person and wounding 23, police said, in the latest in a string of blasts in the Lebanese capital. The blast, which went off just before midnight, caused heavy damage to a street in predominantly Christian east Beirut. Several buildings were damaged and at least two cars were completely destroyed. Wounded people could be seen carried to ambulances that rushed to the scene. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Lebanese citizens gather in front of the damaged buildings after a bomb exploded in Beirut, Lebanon, late Friday, Sept. 16, 2005. A bomb exploded in East Beirut, in a predominantly Christian neighborhood, late Friday, killing at least one person and wounding 23, police said, in the latest in a string of blasts in the Lebanese capital. The blast, which went off just before midnight, caused heavy damage to a street in predominantly Christian east Beirut. Several buildings were damaged and at least two cars were completely destroyed. Wounded people could be seen carried to ambulances that rushed to the scene. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Lebanese internal security forces and rescue workers inspect the scene of a car bomb explosion in the eastern Beirut neighbourhood of Ashrafiyeh. At least one person was killed and 22 wounded in a bomb attack on an apartment building in a Christian section of Beirut, the latest in a string of blasts in the Lebanese capital, police and rescue services said(AFP/Ramzi Haidar)

Lebanese policemen, army soldiers and citizens gather at the scene where a bomb exploded in Beirut, Lebanon, late Friday, Sept. 16, 2005. A bomb exploded in East Beirut, in a predominantly Christian neighborhood, late Friday, killing at least one person and wounding 23, police said, in the latest in a string of blasts in the Lebanese capital. The blast, which went off just before midnight, caused heavy damage to a street in predominantly Christian east Beirut. Several buildings were damaged and at least two cars were completely destroyed. Wounded people could be seen carried to ambulances that rushed to the scene. (AP Photo/ Hussein Mal

Lebanese policemen stand guards next to a damaged car at the scene where a bomb exploded in Beirut, Lebanon, late Friday, Sept. 16, 2005. A bomb exploded in Beirut residential neighborhood late Friday, killing at least one person and wounding 23, police said, in the latest in a string of blasts in the Lebanese capital. The blast, which went off just before midnight, caused heavy damage to a street in predominantly Christian east Beirut. Several buildings were damaged and at least two cars were completely destroyed. Wounded people could be seen carried to ambulances that rushed to the scene. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Beirut September 16, 2005. A car bomb exploded in a mainly Christian neighbourhood of the Lebanese capital Beirut late on Friday, killing one person and wounding at least 10, Red Cross and security sources said. (Adnan Hajj/Reuters)

A Lebanese paramedic, center, treats slightly wounded Souad Younes who is being comforted by her daughter Hind after a bomb exploded in Beirut, Lebanon, late Friday, Sept. 16, 2005. A bomb exploded in Beirut residential neighborhood late Friday, killing at least one person and wounding 23, police said, in the latest in a string of blasts in the Lebanese capital. The blast, which went off just before midnight, caused heavy damage to a street in predominantly Christian east Beirut. Several buildings were damaged and at least two cars were completely destroyed. Wounded people could be seen carried to ambulances that rushed to the scene. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)

 A Lebanese paramedic treats slightly wounded Robert Kolakis after a bomb exploded in Beirut, Lebanon, late Friday, Sept. 16, 2005. A bomb exploded in Beirut residential neighborhood late Friday, killing at least one person and wounding 14, police said, in the latest in a string of blasts in the Lebanese capital. The blast, which went off just before midnight, caused heavy damage to a street in predominantly Christian east Beirut. Several buildings were damaged and at least two cars were completely destroyed. Wounded people could be seen carried to ambulances that rushed to the scene. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)

Lebanese army soldiers and security officers gather in front of a damaged building after a bomb exploded in Beirut, Lebanon, late Friday, Sept. 16, 2005. A bomb exploded in Beirut residential neighborhood late Friday, killing at least one person and wounding 14, police said, in the latest in a string of blasts in the Lebanese capital. The blast, which went off just before midnight, caused heavy damage to a street in predominantly Christian east Beirut. Several buildings were damaged and at least two cars were completely destroyed. Wounded people could be seen carried to ambulances that rushed to the scene. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A Lebanese man looks down from behind his damaged window at the street where a bomb exploded in Beirut, Lebanon, late Friday, Sept. 16, 2005. A bomb exploded in Beirut residential neighborhood late Friday, killing at least one person and wounding seven, police said, in the latest in a string of blasts in the Lebanese capital. The blast, which went off just before midnight, came days ahead of an expected visit by a U.N. investigator to Damascus to interview top Syrian officials over the most notorious of Lebanon’s bomb attacks in recent months _ the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. (AP Photo/ Hussein Malla)

Lebanese security officers and citizens gather in front of a damaged building after a bomb exploded in Beirut, Lebanon, late Friday, Sept. 16, 2005. Th3 bomb exploded in a Beirut residential neighborhood late Friday, killing at least one person and wounding seven, police said, in the latest in a string of blasts in the Lebanese capital. The blast, which went off just before midnight, came days ahead of an expected visit by a U.N. investigator to Damascus to interview top Syrian officials over the most notorious of Lebanon’s bomb attacks in recent months _ the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Lebanese army soldiers and security officers stand guard next to a damaged car after a bomb exploded in Beirut, Lebanon, late Friday, Sept. 16, 2005. The bomb exploded in a Beirut residential neighborhood late Friday, killing at least one person and wounding seven, police said, in the latest in a string of blasts in the Lebanese capital. The blast, which went off just before midnight, came days ahead of an expected visit by a U.N. investigator to Damascus to interview top Syrian officials over the most notorious of Lebanon’s bomb attacks in recent months _ the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Lebanese Security officers and Civil Defense workers inspect a damaged car after a bomb exploded in Beirut, Lebanon, late Friday, Sept. 16, 2005. A bomb exploded in Beirut residential neighborhood late Friday, killing at least one person and wounding seven, police said, in the latest in a string of blasts in the Lebanese capital. The blast, which went off just before midnight, came days ahead of an expected visit by a U.N. investigator to Damascus to interview top Syrian officials over the most notorious of Lebanon’s bomb attacks in recent months _ the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A Lebanese civilian stands on his balcony damaged by a blast in the Ashrafiyeh district in Beirut September 16, 2005. A car bomb exploded in a mainly Christian neighbourhood of Lebanese capital late on Friday, wounding at least four people ,a senior security source said. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi

The dead body of a man lies on the floor in his house, after a bomb exploded in Beirut, Lebanon, late Friday, Sept. 16, 2005. A bomb exploded in Beirut residential neighborhood late Friday, killing at least one person and wounding seven, police said, in the latest in a string of blasts in the Lebanese capital. The blast, which went off just before midnight, came days ahead of an expected visit by a U.N. investigator to Damascus to interview top Syrian officials over the most notorious of Lebanon’s bomb attacks in recent months _ the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. (AP Photo/Joe Francis)

Lebanese soldiers and policemen inspect the damage caused by a blast in the Ashrafiyeh district in Beirut September 16, 2005. A car bomb exploded in a mainly Christian neighbourhood of the Lebanese capital Beirut late on Friday, killing one person and wounding at least 10, Red Cross and security sources said. REUTERS/Adnan Hajj

A Lebanese civilian stands on his balcony damaged by a blast in the Ashrafiyeh district in Beirut September 16, 2005. A car bomb exploded in a mainly Christian neighbourhood of Lebanese capital late on Friday, wounding at least four people ,a senior security source said. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi

 

 A Lebanese policeman and an elderly citizen walk past the wreckage of a car destroyed after a bomb exploded late Friday in a predominantly Christian neighborhood, in east Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005. A bomb exploded in Beirut residential neighborhood late Friday, causing heavy damage and killing at least one person and wounding 23, police said, in the latest in a string of blasts in the Lebanese capital. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

 

 A Lebanese citizen removes the damage from his balcony while his neighbour looks on after a bomb exploded late Friday in a predominantly Christian neighborhood, in east Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005. A bomb exploded in Beirut residential neighborhood late Friday, causing heavy damage and killing at least one person and wounding 23, police said, in the latest in a string of blasts in the Lebanese capital. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

 

 A Lebanese man looks out from his damaged home Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005, after a bomb exploded late Friday in a predominantly Christian neighborhood in east Beirut, Lebanon. A bomb exploded in the residential neighborhood late Friday, causing heavy damage and killing at least one person and wounding 23, police said, in the latest in a string of blasts in the Lebanese capital. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

 

 Lebanese soldiers and rescue workers are seen at the scene of a car bomb explosion in the Jeitawi quarter of east Beirut. One person was killed and 28 wounded in a bombing in a Christian section of Beirut, the latest in a string of blasts to hit the Lebanese capital this year, police said.(AFP/Ramzi Haidar)

 

 Two Lebanese women move the damaged furniture in their house after a bomb exploded late Friday in a predominantly Christian neighborhood, in east Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005. A bomb exploded in a Beirut residential neighborhood late Friday, causing heavy damage and killing at least one person and wounding 23, police said, in the latest in a string of blasts in the Lebanese capital. Several buildings were damaged and at least two cars were completely destroyed. Wounded people could be seen carried to ambulances that rushed to the scene. The explosion came days ahead of an expected visit by a U.N. investigator to Damascus to interview top Syrian officials over the most notorious of Lebanon’s bomb attacks in recent months _ the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. (AP Photo/ Mahmoud Tawil)

 

 A Lebanese woman reacts as she looks at the damage in her bedroom after a bomb exploded late Friday in a predominantly Christian neighborhood, in east Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005. A bomb exploded in Beirut residential neighborhood late Friday, causing heavy damage and killing at least one person and wounding 23, police said, in the latest in a string of blasts in the Lebanese capital. Several buildings were damaged and at least two cars were completely destroyed. Wounded people could be seen carried to ambulances that rushed to the scene. The explosion came days ahead of an expected visit by a U.N. investigator to Damascus to interview top Syrian officials over the most notorious of Lebanon’s bomb attacks in recent months _ the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. (AP Photo/ Hussein Malla)

 

 A Lebanese policeman stands guard next to the wreckage of a car destroyed after a bomb exploded late Friday in a predominantly Christian neighborhood, in east Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005. A bomb exploded in Beirut residential neighborhood late Friday, causing heavy damage and killing at least one person and wounding 23, police said, in the latest in a string of blasts in the Lebanese capital. Several buildings were damaged and at least two cars were completely destroyed. Wounded people could be seen carried to ambulances that rushed to the scene. The explosion came days ahead of an expected visit by a U.N. investigator to Damascus to interview top Syrian officials over the most notorious of Lebanon’s bomb attacks in recent months _ the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. (AP Photo/ Hussein Malla)

 

 Lebanese citizens look out of their damaged windows after a bomb exploded late Friday in a predominantly Christian neighborhood, in east Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005. A bomb exploded in a Beirut residential neighborhood late Friday, causing heavy damage and killing at least one person and wounding 23, police said, in the latest in a string of blasts in the Lebanese capital. Several buildings were damaged and at least two cars were completely destroyed. Wounded people could be seen carried to ambulances that rushed to the scene. The explosion came days ahead of an expected visit by a U.N. investigator to Damascus to interview top Syrian officials over the most notorious of Lebanon’s bomb attacks in recent months _ the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

 

 Lebanese policemen guard the site of a blast after a bomb exploded late Friday in a predominantly Christian neighborhood, in east Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005. A bomb exploded in a Beirut residential neighborhood late Friday, causing heavy damage and killing at least one person and wounding 23, police said, in the latest in a string of blasts in the Lebanese capital. Several buildings were damaged and at least two cars were completely destroyed. Wounded people could be seen carried to ambulances that rushed to the scene. The explosion came days ahead of an expected visit by a U.N. investigator to Damascus to interview top Syrian officials over the most notorious of Lebanon’s bomb attacks in recent months _ the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. (AP Photo/ Hussein Malla)

 

 A Lebanese policeman stands guard next to the wreckage of a car destroyed after a bomb exploded late Friday in a predominantly Christian neighborhood, in east Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005. A bomb exploded in Beirut residential neighborhood late Friday, causing heavy damage and killing at least one person and wounding 23, police said, in the latest in a string of blasts in the Lebanese capital. Several buildings were damaged and at least two cars were completely destroyed. Wounded people could be seen carried to ambulances that rushed to the scene. The explosion came days ahead of an expected visit by a U.N. investigator to Damascus to interview top Syrian officials over the most notorious of Lebanon’s bomb attacks in recent months _ the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

 

 A Lebanese woman kisses a statue of the Virgin Mary at her damaged house after a bomb blast in Ashrafiyeh district in Beirut September 17, 2005. A car bomb exploded in a mainly Christian residential neighbourhood of Beirut late on Friday, killing one person and wounding at least 23, Red Cross and security sources said. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi

 

 A wounded Lebanese girl, Elian Toameh takes a rest at her house after a bomb blast in Achrafieh district in Beirut September 17, 2005. A car bomb exploded in a mainly Christian residential neighbourhood of Beirut late on Friday, killing one person and wounding at least 23, Red Cross and security sources said. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi

 

 A Lebanese woman inspects her damaged house after a bomb blast at Ashrafiyeh district in Beirut September 17, 2005. A car bomb exploded in a mainly Christian residential neighbourhood of Beirut late on Friday, killing one person and wounding at least 23, Red Cross and security sources said. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi

 

 A Lebanese woman walks past a damaged car as a policeman guards at the Ashrafieh district in Beirut September 17, 2005. A car bomb exploded in a mainly Christian residential neighbourhood of Beirut late on Friday, killing one person and wounding at least 23, Red Cross and security sources said. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi

 

 A Lebanese woman inspects her damaged bedroom after a bomb blast at Ashrafiyeh district in Beirut September 17, 2005. A car bomb exploded in a mainly Christian residential neighbourhood of Beirut late on Friday, killing one person and wounding at least 23, Red Cross and security sources said. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi

 

 Lebanese civilian inspect their damaged apartments at Ashrafiyeh district in Beirut September 17,2005. A car bomb exploded in a mainly Christian residential neighbourhood of Beirut late on Friday, killing one person and wounding at least 23, Red Cross and security sources said. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi

 

 A Lebanese woman walks by the wreckage of a car as a policeman guards the blast scene at Achrafieh district in Beirut September 17, 2005. A car bomb exploded in a mainly Christian residential neighbourhood of Beirut late on Friday, killing one person and wounding at least 23, Red Cross and security sources said. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi