Bomb attack as Powell visits

A Palestinian bomber killed herself and at least five other people in an attack on Jerusalem's main market this afternoon in the second suicide bombing in Israel this week.

Thirty Israelis were also wounded in the bus bombing at the Mehane Yehuda market in Jerusalem on the eve of the sabbath when religious Jews stock up on food for the weekend. Eight Israelis were killed in a bus bombing outside Haifa earlier this week.

The bombings apparently came in revenge for what Palestinians have claimed has been the "massacre" of civilians and fighters in Jenin refugee camp. Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the main Islamic extremist groups which have vowed to destroy Israel, are suspected of being behind today's outrage.

Police said they believed the bomber was a Palestinian woman.

Police Chief Mickey Levy said that the bomber had failed to reach the heart of the market or get onto a bus because of tight security. "Thus she exploded herself as he was trying to get on bus," he added.

Speaking after his meeting with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon said: "Israel is conducting a war

against the Palestinian infrastructure of terror and hopes to end it as soon as possible."

"The suicide bombers' terrorism represents a danger for Israel and the entire free world.

"Israel is the only democracy in the world in which there are guards in every school and in every kindergarten in order to protect the children against Palestinian terrorism," Mr Sharon added.

Israel Televison said that Mr Powell was flying over Jerusalem at the time on the blast, en route to a tour of Israel's tense border with Lebanon.

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