Lebanese mosque Imam escapes assassination attempt

The Imam of Quds mosque in the Lebanese southern city of Sidon survived an assassination attempt while he was heading for prayers at dawn Monday. Shaikh Maher Hammoud said 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, noting that he was unharmed. Police and the Lebanese Army promptly arrived at the scene and launched an investigation. Shell casings indicate the bullets were fired from Kalashnikov AK-47 machine guns. Several shop windows were damaged. A few hours later, security forces found the car believed used by the gunmen abandoned behind a residential building on Sidons Nazih Bizri highway. AK-47 bullet casings were found in the brown Toyota Carina. The rear side window was damaged. The armed forces also managed to arrest its owner but it turned out that he had reported it stolen on Sunday.