TYRE, Lebanon An Israeli navy ship opened fire on a Lebanese fishing boat in Lebanese waters before hosing the crew with water canon and then pelting them with prickly pears, port authorities here said Sunday. The incident occurred Saturday at dawn when Mahmud Hussein, 26, and Ali Zaatar, 24, were fishing two kilometres off the coast near the southern Lebanese port of Tyre, the same sources said.

The Israeli vessel came up close to the boat, which was hit by a machine-gun bullet, and the sailors aimed their water canon at the two young men. (AFP)