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Scout Prepared, Foils Assassination Try

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By KRISHAN FRANCIS, The Associated Press

Published: January 9, 2008

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - A quick-thinking Boy Scout foiled an assassination attempt on the president of the Maldives on Tuesday, grabbing an attacker's knife as the man leapt from a crowd and lunged at the leader, an official said.

President Maumoon Gayoom was unhurt, but his shirt was ripped as the man tried a second time to stab him before being overpowered by guards, government spokesman Mohammed Shareef said.

"One brave boy saved the president's life," he said.
Mohammed Jaisham Ibrahim, wearing his blue Maldives scout uniform with a blue kerchief, was standing in the crowd to greet Gayoom on Hoarafushi, one of the 1,190 coral islands in the Indian Ocean that make up the Maldives.

The attacker hid a knife in the Maldivian flag as he awaited Gayoom's arrival, then lunged at the president, Shareef said.

Ibrahim reached and grabbed the blade and was cut on the hand. "His wound was stitched, but later he complained that he could not move some of his fingers," Shareef said.

Maldives Boy Scouts are similar to their U.S. counterparts. Their motto is the same: "Be Prepared."

After the attack, Gayoom addressed the nation in a radio broadcast and thanked the boy.

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