Pro-Hizbullah Imam Escapes Assassination Attempt in Sidon
The Imam of Quds mosque in the southern city of Sidon said Monday that assailants opened fire on him while he was heading for prayers but he escaped unscathed.
Sheikh Maher Hammoud told Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) that the assailants fired around 20 rounds from a passing vehicle after he went out of his house in Quds square to head for prayers.
Hammoud hinted that “sympathizers with the Syrian opposition or any party seeking to ignite strife could be behind” the assassination attempt.
But he denied to VDL (93.3) that he had accused any party.
Hammoud is close to Hizbullah which has sent fighters to Syria to support the regime of President Bashar Assad against rebels seeking to topple him.
The state-run National News Agency said the security forces found in Sidon a Toyota which initial investigation said was used in the attack on the Sheikh.
The army intelligence also managed to question its owner but it turned out that he had reported it stolen on Sunday, NNA said.
In a similar incident, assailants opened fire on the vehicle of Islamic Unity Mosque's Imam, Sheikh Ibrahim al-Braidi, in the Bekaa town of Qob Elias at dawn Monday.
The GMC Envoy, which was parked near his house, was partly burned.
Al-Braidi has close ties with Hammoud.
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