'Assasin's gun could not have killed'

It has been suggested that Oktay Enimehmedov who aimed a gun at the head of a Bulgarian politician - Ahmed Dogan as he was giving a speech had no intention of killing his victim.

According to Bulgaria's deputy Chief Prosecutor - Borislav Sarafov , the gunman used a gas pistol loaded with pepper spray that would not have killed his victim.

Enimehmedov stormed the stage at the National Palace of Culture in Bulgaria's capital Sofia during a political conference and held the gun at the head of Dogan, leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms.

Video footage showed the 25-year-old jumping out of the audience and interrupting the speech by 58-year-old Dogan, who has led the party for almost a quarter of a century.

In a split second, he raises the gun to Mr Dogan's head but it appeared to misfire.

The politician then knocked the gun away and fell to the floor as he attempted to flee.

Security guards and delegates rushed onto the stage where they wrestled the attacker to the ground.

A separate group surrounded a shocked Mr Dogan in a protective shield.

Politicians then appeared from the audience and began stamping on Enimehmedov as he lay on the ground. He was taken away by police - bloodied and bruised. Prosecutors are considering charging those who hit Enimehmedov.

Enimehmedov, an ethnic Turk from the eastern city of Burgas, could face six years behind bars. The liberal MRF party represents ethnic Turks and other Muslims who make up about 12 per cent of Bulgaria's 7.3 million-strong population.

Dogan, who resigned after the incident, was seen as one of the country's most influential political figures.