US Marine commander escapes injury in Lebanon

A US Marine helicopter carrying commanding officer Col. James Mead was hit by machine-gun fire outside Beirut. But no one was injured, a Marine spokesman said.

Colonel Mead had gone on a reconnaissance mission after mortar shells crashed into Beirut, killing at least six people. The bombardment, coming from the mountains east of the city, was the widest bombardment of the capital since last summer's Israeli siege. President Amin Gemayel, who was driving through the area in a motorcade, was unharmed.