An explosion rocked the port city of Jounieh in the Christian heartland north of Beirut tonight. Six people were reportedly wounded.

Witnesses in Jounieh, 10 miles north of Beirut, said the explosion occurred near the main square of the picturesque town. Future television, a private station, said the explosion targeted a shopping centre.

The explosion was heard in the hills overlooking the coast shortly after 9 pm (6pm Irish time).

Future and LBC television both quoted security sources as saying six people were wounded. The explosion broke a lull of several weeks following a spate of bombings of commercial areas – shopping centres and an industrial zone. Bombings in March and early April killed three people and injured 24.

The explosion comes on the eve of the return of Michel Aoun, Lebanon’s most prominent anti-Syrian politician, from 14 years of exile in France. His supporters, mainly Christians, have planned a big rally for him in downtown Beirut.

Lebanon has been in political turmoil since a massive bombing in the capital on February 14 killed former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the country’s most famous politician, and 20 others.

Since then, mass anti-Syrian protests and intense international pressure forced Syria to withdraw its troops. Syrian forces completed their withdrawal on April 26 and a new government was installed in Beirut last month.

The country also is to hold crucial parliamentary elections beginning on May 29.