Eight die in Jerusalem bus blast

At least eight people were killed and 30 wounded in a suicide attack on a Jerusalem bus today. It was only yards from the official residence of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

The blast, on Gaza Street, rocked the surrounding area, blowing off the roof of the bus and sending shards of glass flying through the air.

Bloodied victims ran through the street as other passengers received emergency treatment in the twisted wreckage.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility. The explosion coincided with a German-brokered prisoner swap between Israel and the Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah. It was not immediately clear whether there was a connection.

The last attack in Israel was a suicide bombing at a bus stop outside Tel Aviv on Christmas Day that killed four people.