In pictures: Twin blast rock Tripoli

Smoke rises above people gathering near al-taqwa mosque on the site of a powerful explosion in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli on August 23, 2013. Two powerful explosions killed several people: one rocked the city centre near a mosque and the home of outgoing Prime Minister Najib Mikati, the second one struck near the port of the restive city with a Sunni Muslim majority. The explosions come a week after a suicide car bombing killed 27 people in a Beirut stronghold of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, which is fighting alongside Assad's forces. AFP PHOTO IBRAHIM CHALHOUB *** Local Caption *** 789757-01-08.jpg

The first blast rocked the city centre near the home of outgoing prime minister Najib Mikati, although his office said he was not in Tripoli at the time. Ibrahim Chalhoub / AFP Photo

Both explosions were also near mosques on what is the weekly Muslim day of prayer. Ibrahim Chalhoub / AFP Photo

Tripoli, on the Mediterranean coast, has been marred by deadly violence between Sunnis, who support the armed uprising in neighbouring Syria, and Alawites who support President Bashar Al Assad.

Lebanese television channels aired footage of the dead, of buildings with their fronts blown in and vehicles ablaze, as bystanders rushed to help the wounded. AFP Photo

The explosions come a week after a suicide car bombing killed 27 people in a Beirut stronghold of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hizbollah, which is fighting alongside Assad's forces. Omar Ibrahim / Reuters

The second struck near the port of the restive city with a Sunni Muslim majority, close to the home of former police chief Ashraf Rifi, a security source said. Omar Ibrahim / Reuters

On Wednesday, army chief General Jean Kahwaji said his forces were fighting a "total war" against terrorism whose aim is "to provoke sectarian strife" in the country. Omar Ibrahim / Reuters