Hamas: We staged Israel bombings

Palestinian militant group Hamas today claimed responsibility for two suicide bombings in Israel which killed 16 people and wounded more than 50.

In the first blast, shortly after 6pm yesterday, the bomber struck at a bus stop next to an army base in Rishon LeTzion, near Tel Aviv. The explosion killed seven people.

A few hours later a second bomber devastated a cafÈ in Jerusalem's German Colony. Seven died and up to 40 were hurt.

Palestinian sources said that the two bombers were friends who had studied in the West Bank town of Rantis, west of Ramallah.

Ahmed Qureia, who has provisionally accepted the post of Palestinian prime minister, condemned the blasts, calling for a renewed effort to quell spiralling violence.

But Ranaan Gissin, a senior aide to Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon, said: "It makes no difference which terrorist organisations claim responsibility. The Palestinian Authority is not discharging its responsibility."