Post by Salem6 on Feb 4, 2008 0:15:54 GMT
A Lebanese man has been shot dead and another wounded in south Lebanon by Israel forces, Lebanese security sources have said.
The incident happened near the divided border village of Ghajar.
Israeli and Lebanese officials said the shooting was believed to be connected to drug-smuggling rather than a clash with militants.
Tensions between Israel and Lebanon have been high since the end of the war with Lebanon-based Hezbollah in 2006.
Ghajar is located on the edge of the contested Shebaa Farms region of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
There were conflicting accounts from the Israeli and Lebanese military regarding what happened.
An Israeli army spokesman said troops patrolling in Ghajar had returned fire after coming under attack from the Lebanese side of the border.
A Lebanese army spokesman, however, said Israeli troops opened fire unilaterally. There were no Israeli casualties.
Reuters news agency quoted the Israeli military as saying the incident involved three drug smugglers who had crossed into Israeli territory.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7225408.stm