October 14, 2002	Monday	Sha'aban 7, 1423

DEIR QANUN AN-NAHR (Lebanon): Ariel Sharon won’t be taking home any prizes in Lebanon — he came in last on Sunday in a race for the title of swiftest donkey.

The donkey named for the Israeli prime minister came fifth out of five in a donkey race capping an annual festival in Deir Qanun an-Nahr village near Tyre in south Lebanon. Hundreds cheered the donkeys as they loped towards the finish line, where an animal named “Out of Gas” won first prize.

A member of the village council who organized the race said that each jockey picked his beast’s name. “The man who named his donkey Sharon wanted all eyes on his donkey, to liven it up, and also to mock the other Sharon, who’s made a name for himself through slaughter, especially of Palestinians,” he said.

Participants in the donkey race routinely take swipes at political figures here on various occasions.—Reuters