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| Scare as Sarkozy departs Israel | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Confusion has marred French President Nicolas Sarkozy's farewell to Israel, after a soldier reportedly shot himself during an airport departure ceremony. | Confusion has marred French President Nicolas Sarkozy's farewell to Israel, after a soldier reportedly shot himself 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. | |
| It is unclear whether the soldier's death was accidental or a suicide. | |
| A police spokesman told the Reuters news agency that a policeman guarding the airport had committed suicide just as Mr Sarkozy and Ms Bruni were about to board their plane. | |
| Other reports suggested the security officer may have fainted from the heat, accidentally discharging his weapon. | Other reports suggested the security officer may have fainted from the heat, accidentally discharging his weapon. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'No danger' | |
| Israel Radio reported that an Israeli soldier on the perimeter of the airport had shot himself, while stationed 100m to 200m from the Sarkozys' plane. | |
| 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. | |
| Israeli officials told the media that Mr Sarkozy had not been in any danger during the incident. | |
| Mr Sarkozy's visit was intended to improve relations between France and Israel. | Mr Sarkozy's visit was intended to improve relations between France and Israel. |
| He also held talks in the West Bank on Tuesday with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. | He also held talks in the West Bank on Tuesday with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. |
| Speaking after the meeting, Mr Sarkozy voiced his support for the creation of a Palestinian state. | Speaking after the meeting, Mr Sarkozy voiced his support for the creation of a Palestinian state. |
| "The security of Israel is non-negotiable for France, but the creation of a viable, democratic, modern state for the Palestinians is a priority for France," he said. | "The security of Israel is non-negotiable for France, but the creation of a viable, democratic, modern state for the Palestinians is a priority for France," he said. |
| He also repeated his call for Israel to halt its building of settlements in the West Bank. | |
| It came a day after he told Israeli politicians in the Knesset that there would be no lasting Middle East peace without a freeze on Jewish settlement construction on Palestinian land. | |
| Mr Abbas said the Palestinians were "relying a great deal on the European role" in the peace process, particularly as France takes on the rotating European Union presidency next month. | Mr Abbas said the Palestinians were "relying a great deal on the European role" in the peace process, particularly as France takes on the rotating European Union presidency next month. |