Sheikh Shamseddine's bodyguards and gunmen
Lebanon, Local, 12/5/1997

The bodyguard of the chairman of the Higher Islamic Shiite Council in Lebanon Sheikh Mohammad Mahdi Shamseddine was slightly wounded while exchanging shots unidentified gunmen, near the Islamic Institute, next to the Shatila roundabout.

Newspaper reports said Sheikh Mohammed Mehdi Shamseddine, head of the Higher Shiite Muslim Council, was praying at a mosque in a Beirut southern suburb Thursday, when his bodyguards spotted "suspicious movements" some 50 meters away in surrounding woods.

Unidentified gunmen opened fire in the direction of the bodyguards, prompting retaliation by Bassem Shamseddine, a relative of the cleric's and his personal bodyguard. He was slightly injured in the forehead, the reports added.

Police and security sources, however, would not confirm the reports, saying there was no evidence that there indeed was an assassination attempt. Police said investigators at the site of the incident found 30 spent bullets fired from Bassem Shamseddine's rifle. No bullets from any other weapon were found, they added.

Sources from the Shiite council did not speculate on the motives for the attack and the council will not issue a statement.

President Hrawi and top Lebanese officials phoned Sheikh Shamseddine, expressing relief over his safety.

Commenting on the incident, Sheikh Shamseddine said, "Investigations are in the hands of specialized security officials. And if someone wants to send us a message, we have received this message and we will not change our stand."

Bassem Shamseddine told police he saw two men lurking in the woods close to the mosque. One of them carried a rifle and when he saw a flash of light, he opened fire himself on the source, thinking it was fire directed at the cleric.

Beirut prosecutor Abdullah Bitar said there was no evidence that Shamseddine was the target of an assassination bid and police said the bodyguard may have falsely imagined the whole incident. His injury may have been caused by a ricocheting bullet from his own rifle, they added.

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