Lebanese security forces defuse bomb in chip bag

BEIRUT, Mar 12 (Reuters) Lebanese security forces defused a bomb hidden in a potato chip packet and arrested the man who was carrying it, police said in a statement.

A security patrol had stopped the man last night in the southern city of Sidon when he aroused suspicion.

''When he was searched an explosive device was found which he had placed inside a potato chip bag,'' the statement said.

''The patrol stopped the person and took the bag immediately to the beach, where a security cordon was imposed,'' it said.

Two hundred grams of explosives were found rigged for detonation at 0930hrs local yesterday.

The detained man was being questioned by authorities.

The security forces have been regularly finding explosives in the recent weeks, most not rigged for detonation.

Reports of the finds have kept Lebanese on edge as their country goes through a political crisis which many fear could spill into civil war.

Reuters PA RN1430