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Anti-French sentiment taken a bit too far
Sarko in Israel, and people start to shoot themselves, WTF?
Full: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7471735.stm
Seriously, public suicide seems kinda unusual, no? I thought most would do it rather alone (aside from those suicide bombers of course, but that's another matter).
Confusion has marred French President Nicolas Sarkozy's farewell to Israel, after a soldier shot himself dead during an airport departure ceremony.
Mr Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni, were rushed into their plane after the shot. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was also hurried to safety.
The incident at Ben-Gurion airport came at the end of Mr Sarkozy's three-day visit to Israel and the West Bank.
A police spokesman said the security officer had committed suicide.
Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the incident, which happened just as Mr Sarkozy and Ms Bruni were about to board their plane, had posed no threat to the visitors.
He denied reports that it might have been an assassination attempt on the French president. Other reports suggested the soldier may have shot himself accidentally.
Witnesses said the incident was over within minutes and that Mr Olmert had then boarded the Sarkozys' plane to say farewell and explain what had happened.
'A priority'
Israel Radio reported that the soldier had been stationed on the perimeter of the airport, some 100m to 200m (330 - 660 feet) from the Sarkozys' plane, when he shot himself as a band played.
Carla Bruni and Nicolas Sarkozy in the West Bank, 24 June
Mr Sarkozy and his wife earlier met Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas
Television footage showed the French president and his wife being hustled up the steps into the aircraft.
Israeli President Shimon Peres, who was also present for the farewell ceremony, was also taken to his armoured car.
(snip)
Mr Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni, were rushed into their plane after the shot. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was also hurried to safety.
The incident at Ben-Gurion airport came at the end of Mr Sarkozy's three-day visit to Israel and the West Bank.
A police spokesman said the security officer had committed suicide.
Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the incident, which happened just as Mr Sarkozy and Ms Bruni were about to board their plane, had posed no threat to the visitors.
He denied reports that it might have been an assassination attempt on the French president. Other reports suggested the soldier may have shot himself accidentally.
Witnesses said the incident was over within minutes and that Mr Olmert had then boarded the Sarkozys' plane to say farewell and explain what had happened.
'A priority'
Israel Radio reported that the soldier had been stationed on the perimeter of the airport, some 100m to 200m (330 - 660 feet) from the Sarkozys' plane, when he shot himself as a band played.
Carla Bruni and Nicolas Sarkozy in the West Bank, 24 June
Mr Sarkozy and his wife earlier met Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas
Television footage showed the French president and his wife being hustled up the steps into the aircraft.
Israeli President Shimon Peres, who was also present for the farewell ceremony, was also taken to his armoured car.
(snip)
Seriously, public suicide seems kinda unusual, no? I thought most would do it rather alone (aside from those suicide bombers of course, but that's another matter).
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