BEIRUT -- A car bomb exploded Monday near the headquarters of the judiciary in central Beirut hosting the trial of anti-Syrian activists but there were no injuries, police told AFP.

The blast appeared to be caused by an explosive charge placed under a car parked on a main avenue near the court center, they said.

Police closed off the area of the explosion which seemed to be small and the car was only partly damaged, an AFP photographer said.

There was still no information about the motives of the explosion and investigation has been launched, police said.

The judiciary headquarters is the site of trials of dozens of anti-Syrian Christians arrested in a recent army crackdown.

Army intelligence carried out a major round-up on August 5-8, arresting more than 200 anti-Syrian Christians and provoking a storm of protest in opposition ranks.

Some of those arrested have been charged of links with Israel.