By Afif Diab CHTOURA, Lebanon Dec 9 (Reuters) - Lebanon's Hizbollah guerrilla group accused Israel of carrying out a failed attempt to kill one of its officials on Friday and said it would do "what is necessary" to defend itself.

"We blame the Zionist enemy for planning and executing this attack," a Hizbollah statement said after a blast destroyed the official's car seconds after he left the vehicle and went into the house of a senior leader of the group in eastern Lebanon. "The Islamic Resistance (Hizbollah's military wing) will bear its responsibility...and do all ... necessary to cut off the hands that target its Mujahedeen (fighters) with evil ... and defend Lebanon and its people," the statement said.

Dec 9, 2005