A Palestinian man was killed today and two Israeli police officers wounded, one seriously, during a search for a suicide bomber in a Palestinian West Bank village, a military source said.
The source said the search was begun in Baka al Sharkie on information a Palestinian carrying explosives was preparing for suicide attacks in northern Israel.
The Israeli border guards, belonging to an elite police anti-terrorist unit, were fired on just before the explosion, the source said.
The identity of the dead man was not given, but a state of alert declared in northern Israel was lifted after the blast. Roadblocks were removed and police checks eased.
Local residents said a loud explosion was heard at about 3 a.m. (1 a.m. Irish time), and a curfew was put on the village by Israeli forces immediately afterwards.
British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair has urged US President Mr George W. Bush to back a new push for peace in the Middle East, British newspapers reported today.
The move was seen as essential to retain moderate Muslim support in the war against Afghanistan's Taliban and Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden, according to reports in the Independentand the Guardian.
AFP