At least two people were lightly injured in the blast, caused by a small chunk of dynamite hidden in the toilet of the restaurant, the sources said.

Security forces evacuated the building, and were checking it for any other explosives, they added.

Anger at Washington has swelled in Lebanon since the start of the U.S.-led war on Iraq last month.

Anti-American sentiment had already been building up over the course of the 30-month Palestinian uprising and attempts by U.S. ally Israel to crush it.

There has been a string of bombings at fast food outlets associated with the United States since May 2002, when one person was injured in the bombing of a Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet in the northern port city of Tripoli.

In November, small blasts shook three restaurants in Beirut and northern Lebanon, including two Pizza Hut outlets.  
 
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