Safadi: Helicopter was fired on by mistake

Source: Daily Star, 5-9-2008

BEIRUT: Minister of Economy and Trade Mohammad Safadi said Thursday a Hizbullah fighter opened fire "by mistake" at a military helicopter in the southern Sojod region, killing First Lieutenant Samer Hanna. Safadi, in an interview with the Qatari daily Al-Watan, said Defense Minister Elias Murr had "relayed information to the cabinet that the incident happened by mistake and was not premeditated ...
The helicopter carried colors of the United Arab Emirates and a 5X5-centimeter Lebanese flag was attached to its tail ... The helicopter landed and took off again which looked like a landing operation while it was actually mere exercise. Unfortunately, one of the people there opened fire and killed the pilot." Safadi also said reports of massive armament in Tripoli were "exaggerated."