BEIRUT: The state news agency says a bombing in central Beirut has killed five people, including a senior aide to former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

It says Mohammed Chatah and his driver were both killed in the powerful explosion early Friday in downtown Beirut.

Chatah served as finance minister in Hariri's government, then as his senior adviser after Hariri lost the premiership in early 2011.

It says three other people were also killed and more than 15 wounded.

Lebanon's former prime minister Saad Hariri accused Hezbollah of involvement the bomb attack in Beirut that killed his adviser Mohamad Chatah.

“As far as we are concerned the suspects...are those who are fleeing international justice and refusing to represent themselves before the international tribunal,” Hariri said, referring to five Hezbollah suspects indicted for the 2005 killing of his father.

The trial of the five suspects is due to open in The Hague in January.

The suspects are all fugitives and Hezbollah, which denies any role in the Hariri assassination, has refused to cooperate with the court which it says is politically motivated.