An officer of Israel Border Guard shot himself dead on Tuesday during a farewell ceremony held in honor of French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Ben-Gurion International Airport.
Moshe Fintzy, spokesman of Israel Border Police, refused to disclose any details of the incident, but confirmed to Xinhua that there was no assassination attempt of the French leader.
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France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (center R) and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy (top) are rushed by security officers into the presidential plane at Ben Gurion international airport near Tel Aviv June 24, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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The incident is under investigation, Fintzy added.
Police spokesman Shlomi Sagi was quoted by the website of local daily Jerusalem Post as saying that the policeman, who was part of the honorary guard, was killed in an apparent suicide.
Israel Radio said the soldier was stationed 100 meters to 200 meters away from the plane.
Soon after the accident, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's security personnel withdrew their handguns and rushed Olmert and Israeli President Shimon Peres to bullet-proof cars, while Sarkozy and his wife were rushed to the French president's plane.
After the circumstances of the incident became clear, the bodyguards allowed Peres and Olmert to board the plane and bid Sarkozy farewell.
