A suspected suicide bomber who blew himself up on a bus in central Jerusalem today killed at least ten people.
The blast happened near the official residence of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. He is thought to have been at his ranch in the Negev desert at the time.
Dozens of people were hurt when the bomb - the first inside Israel since Christmas Day - struck Gaza Street in central Jerusalem.
The force of the blast on a tree-lined residential street blew off part of the bus's roof and shattered windows. At least one policeman died in the bombing, according to reports.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
Palestinian militant groups had vowed revenge for an Israeli army raid in the Gaza Strip yesterday in which troops killed eight Palestinians, including five fighters.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the bombing and called for resumed peace talks with Israel.
Agencies