Lebanese army soldiers view damaged building after bomb explosion in Bab al-Tebbaneh, Tripoli, 28 Jun  2008

Officials in northern Lebanon say a bomb blast at a residential building has killed at least one person and wounded at least 27 others.

The explosion ripped through the first floor of an apartment building early Saturday in the Bab al-Tebbaneh neighborhood of Tripoli.

There has been no claim of responsibility.

The area has been the scene of deadly sectarian violence.

Earlier this week, nine people were killed and 45 wounded in clashes between Sunni Muslims, who support the Lebanese government, and Alawites, a Shi'ite sect close to the Hezbollah-led opposition.

Tensions between Lebanon's rival factions have been growing in recent weeks as political leaders struggle to form a new Cabinet under the terms of an Arab-brokered deal signed in May.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, and Reuters.