London: A former British security agent said today that he was uncertain whether a proposed plan to assassinate a Balkan leader involved a bright flash of light, as he had claimed in a book.
Richard Tomlinson -- testifying at the inquest into the deaths of Princess Diana and boyfriend Dodi Fayed -- had claimed in his 2001 book, "The Big Breach," that such a plot had been aimed at Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic.
Today, however, he said he may have been mistaken about the target. Lawyer Nicholas Hilliard, who is working for the coroner overseeing the inquest, said the plot's author had disputed there was any plan to use a bright light.
Tomlinson, who testified by videolink from southern France, has said he had seen a written version of the assassination proposal, and was acquainted with its author.
The plot's author, identified in court only as "A," has said the plot was vetoed by his superiors, Hilliard said.
It has been suggested that such a plan may have been the prototype for a staged accident intended to kill Diana and Fayed. Fayed's father, Mohamed Al Fayed, claims the couple were murdered by British agents working for Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II.
Al Fayed has claimed that a bright light was used to disorient the couple s driver, Henri Paul, who also died in the crash.
While questioning Tomlinson, Hilliard said that agent "A" had confirmed proposing a plan, probably in 1993,for killing an unidentified Balkan leader suspected of being involved in genocide.
