BEN-GURION AIRPORT, Israel - An Israeli police officer fatally shot himself in the head on Tuesday at an airport departure ceremony for French President Nicolas Sarkozy, authorities said, sparking fear of an assassination attempt and prompting bodyguards to whisk Sarkozy and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert away.

The shooting occurred while a military band was playing, and the leaders apparently didn't hear anything. Dark-suited security men then quickly ushered Sarkozy up the stairs of his plane. In a panic, Sarkozy's wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, rushed up the stairs ahead of him.

At the same time, security guards, with their guns drawn, rushed Olmert and Israeli President Shimon Peres toward their cars. The incident was over within minutes, and Olmert returned and boarded the plane to inform Sarkozy what happened, witnesses said.

The dead policeman's body, covered with a sheet, lay on the tarmac after the bizarre incident.

Police spokesman, Micky Rosenfeld denied reports that there had been an assassination attempt on the French leader. Police officials said none of the leaders were in danger.

The area police commander, Nissim Mor, said police were looking into the incident. "We are currently investigating the circumstances to see whether it was suicide or if he accidentally discharged his weapon," he said. "His mission was to secure an area to prevent people from reaching the ceremony."

Witnesses said the man fell from a roof after shooting himself. He was at least 100 yards away from Sarkozy's plane.

French presidential spokesman Franck Louvrier could not be reached for comment on his mobile phone. Another presidential spokesman, who was on another scheduled flight out of Tel Aviv, said he knew nothing about the incident.

The airport shooting was a dramatic end to a three-day visit that had gone according to plan up to then.

Earlier Tuesday, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Sarkozy said Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank would not guarantee its security forever, renewing his call for Israelis and Palestinians to make peace and share the holy city of Jerusalem.

Sarkozy spoke at a news conference alongside Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, following his only meeting with Palestinian leaders during his visit, aimed primarily at cementing the improved relations between France and Israel after years of frosty ties.

Nevertheless, the French president was unusually frank in his comments critical of Israeli policies.

On Monday, he told the Israeli parliament that there could be no Mideast peace unless Israel halted its West Bank settlement construction and divided Jerusalem. On Tuesday, he focused his words on the West Bank separation barrier Israel says it has built to keep suicide bombers out, but Palestinians denounce as a land grab.

"You can't protect yourself with a wall, but with politics," Sarkozy said. "What will give Israel security ... is making a democratic Palestinian state."

Israeli government spokesman David Baker said Sarkozy was "a great friend of Israel," adding that "great friends don't always see eye-to-eye on every issue."

Sarkozy, also repeated his call to share Jerusalem, the eastern part of which Palestinians claim as the capital of their future state.

"Can Jerusalem be for one side, and not the other? I don't think so," Sarkozy said. "I'm a friend of Israel and I can say this. I understand everybody's attachment to Jerusalem, it's a holy city for three faiths ... but Jerusalem's wealth is its plurality."

Sarkozy, whose maternal grandfather was a Greek Jew, devoted most of his trip to friendly meetings with Israeli leaders. He also delivered a speech before parliament and met with the parents of an Israeli soldier held by Palestinian militants in Gaza. The young man, Gilad Schalit, also holds French citizenship.

Throughout the visit, he repeatedly called himself a "friend of Israel" and showered praise on the Jewish state.

"On behalf of France, we would like to declare our true love to Israel - we love you!" he said, at a meeting with French and Israeli businessmen on Tuesday.