BBC News with Sue Montgomery.

The head of intelligence for Lebanon's national police and security forces has been killed in a huge car bomb explosion in Beirut. Wissam al-Hassan was among at least eight people killed by explosion in the heart of the mainly Christian Ashrafiya district. Mr. Hassan lead the investigation that

implicated

Syria, in the bombing that killed the former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005. Wyre Davies in Beirut has more.

After a long period of relative calm, this is the first big bomb attack in the Lebanese capital in four years, but many had feared something like this would happen sooner or later, and that Lebanon would be inevitably dragged into the conflict in neighboring Syria. Some Lebanese political leaders have already accused the Assad regime in Syria of being behind the attack. The danger now is not only that there may be more attacks, but also the tensions will grow between Lebanon's many armed and political groups.

The United States has invited Burma to observe a major

military exercise

in neighboring Thailand in a clearer sign yet for improving relations between the two countries. Burma has yet to respond the offer. Jonathan Head has more.

Renewing

ties with the Burmese army forces is a far more delicate issue for the United States in its recent decision to end economic sanctions. There are still serious concerns about the army's treatment of civilians in conflict zones and over its commitment to democratization, but the US appears to be ready to