Policeman accidentally fires during French President's speech

A police officer in Western France accidentally discharged his weapon as French President François Hollande was addressing at an inauguration ceremony, media reports said.

According to a report in CNN, Hollande was not injured, but another man was, the mayor of Villognon Claude Guitton said on Tuesday.

"A local police officer aiding in the security detail for the President's visit accidentally discharged his weapon. The officer is a sniper and was positioned on top of a building," the Prefet of Charente Pierre N'Gahane was quoted as saying.

Hollande was speaking at the inauguration of a high-speed train line when the accident took place.

The mayor has initiated an investigation in this case.

"This seems to have been an accident," Guitton said, adding that Hollande has since left the city.

--IANS

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