Lebanese teenager seriously injured by shell explosion

NABATIYEH, Lebanon (Reuters) -- A Lebanese teenager was seriously wounded on Sunday by an artillery shell that exploded while he was trying to defuse it, hospital officials in the southern town of Nabatiyeh said.

They said 17-year-old Alaa Marei was in critical condition after shrapnel from the shell pierced his eyes and body.

Security sources said Marei found the 81mm shell near his home and was trying to open it when it blew up. They said the shell had been left behind by Israeli troops who ended their 22-year-old occupation of south Lebanon in May.

Marei is the sixth civilian hurt by Israeli ammunition in the last three days. Four Lebanese, including two children, were wounded by landmines on Saturday and doctors amputated a man's leg on Friday after it was badly damaged in a mine explosion.

Lebanese officials say that since the Israeli withdrawal, landmines have killed up to six people and wounded at least 30.

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