An Israeli soldier on the perimeter of a farewell airport ceremony for French President Nicolas Sarkozy apparently shot himself today.
Television footage showed bodyguards hustling Mr Sarkozy and wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy into their airplane at Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion Airport, while other security men surrounded Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and moved him quickly toward his car.
The plane departed without further incident, and Israel Radio said the shooting did not endanger the visiting leader.
Israel Radio reported the soldier who was shot was stationed 100 metres to 200 metres (yards) away from the plane. Two women soldiers who witnessed the shooting fainted and were treated by medics.
Israel's volunteer medical service Zaka said the soldier apparently committed suicide, but other media reports said he may have fainted from the heat, discharging his gun accidentally.
