Beirut - A prominent anti-Syria journalist was killed on Thursday when a bomb destroyed his car as he started the engine in a Christian district of Beirut, security sources said.

They said Samir Qaseer of An-Nahar newspaper died instantly in the blast outside his home in the Ashrafiyeh neighbourhood. A woman was wounded.

Qaseer is a front page columnist at Lebanon's leading daily who has for years called for an end to Syria's role in Lebanon.

Syria ended its 29-year military presence in Lebanon in April under international and Lebanese popular pressure.

The blast came four days after the start of the country's parliamentary elections, staggered over four Sundays from May 29-June 19.