Bomb hits UN vehicle in Lebanon

BEIRU (AP) - A bomb hit a U.N. peacekeeping force patrol on a coastal road in southern Lebanon on Monday, a Lebanese security official said, the second such attack targeting the force in less than a month.

The bomb struck the convoy as it was driving through the village of Qassimiyeh near the southern port city of Tyre, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said "a small bomb" exploded near a U.N. peacekeeping force observation post in Qassimiyeh, causing damage but no casualties. It gave no further details.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or the nationality of the soldiers traveling in the convoy.

In the first attack targeting the U.N. force known as UNIFIL, six peacekeepers belonging to the Spanish contingent were killed June 24 when a bomb struck their armored personnel carrier in southern Lebanon.

UNIFIL Commander Gen. Claudio Graziano said in an interview with The Associated Press late last that he does not know who was behind the car bombing on the Spanish troops, but he was sure the attackers aimed to undermine peace in Lebanon and the region.

Since the arrival of the reinforced UNIFIL force last summer, Graziano said the force received many threats, "and we took all the threats very seriously, even if they were not direct."