Arafat back in the firing line

Fierce fighting raged throughout the West Bank Palestinian stronghold of Ramallah early today as Israeli tanks, backed by bulldozers, smashed into Yasser Arafat's fortified headquarters compound.

One of the beleaguered Palestinian leader's bodyguards has been killed and a number of buildings in the compound are reported to have been pulverised as the backlash to yesterday's bomb attack on an Israeli bus intensified.

Aides to Mr Arafat said parts of the complex containing his sleeping quarters were badly damaged by shelling and machinegun fire but he was unhurt and remained safe throughout the onslaught. According to Palestinian security sources at least six people in the compound were wounded before the attack suddenly ended after six hours.

"It was terrible," said Palestinian security guard Ahmed Ali. "We spent the night witnessing them destroying the buildings around us, the sound of explosions, tanks rolling around us."

Israel Radio announced that there was no intention to harm Mr Arafat. However, the intensity of today's action against him, together with the White House's latest signal that an exasperated President Bush is ready to sideline the Palestian leader, sparked speculation that he is on the verge of being forcibly removed from the scene.

Signalling an effort in Washington to reach out to alternative Palestinian leaders, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said: "In the president's eyes, Yasser Arafat has never played a role of someone who can be trusted and who is effective."

Although, according to a senior US official, Israel did not inform the United States before today's assault and Washington did not give prior approval, Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon had left the world in no doubt that Israel would hit back after the latest suicide attack left 17 Israeli bus passengers dead. Mr Sharon was due to fly to Washington today, but has now put back his departure until Saturday in order to take personal charge of the situation in the West Bank.

In a statement at daybreak, the Israeli military said its forces took control of Mr Arafat's headquarters "in the wake of a wave of Palestinian terrorism sweeping the state of Israel," including the attack on the bus.

The statement said the Palestinian Authority is "directly responsible for terrorism that originates in its territory".