Blast rocks Palestinian West Bank HQ

Explosions shook the headquarters of the Palestinian Force-17 security force in the West Bank city of Ramallah today, witnesses…

Explosions shook the headquarters of the Palestinian Force-17 security force in the West Bank city of Ramallah today, witnesses said.

Israel's Army Radio said no one apparently had been taken to hospital. Witnesses said the source of the blast was unclear.

Palestinian President Mr Yasser Arafat was in the city - about 10 kilometres from Jerusalem. The city is his main headquarters in the West Bank.

Witnesses said they heard several blasts and red tiles had been blown off the roof of the building.

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Israel has accused Force-17 of being behind attacks against Israelis.

Palestinian officials deny Israeli claims that Force-17 is Mr Arafat's special security force. They say it is just one of several security forces and not close to Mr Arafat.