A powerful explosion breaks out in central Beirut on February 14. Former Lebanese Prime Minister RafikHariri was killed in a powerful explosion in central Beirut on Monday, Lebanese officials and medical sources said.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was killed in a powerful explosion in central Beirut on Monday, Lebanese officials and medical sources said.

Hariri died at American University Hospital, while former Minister of Justice Samir al-Jisr and former Minister of Economyand Trade Basil Fuleihan, who were traveling in Hariri's convoy,survived the blast.

At least eight others were also killed, including some of Hariri's bodyguards.

The explosion, apparently caused by a car bomb, occurred around 1:00 p.m. (1100 GMT), when Hariri's motorcade of four black limousines escorted by jeeps was passing by in the seafront area of the capital.

Security forces sealed off the scene, where a big crater was gouged by the explosion.

It appeared to be the biggest bomb in the city since Lebanon'scivil war ended in 1990.

Hariri, 60, a Sunni Muslim, resigned last October. He came to office first in 1992 and headed five governments over 12 years.

Hariri had joined a chorus of objection to interference in Lebanon's internal affairs.