Israeli troops kill militant

A Palestinian on Israel's "most wanted list" was killed by troops in a raid on the West Bank today as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon warned of a sustained military campaign.

It is understood that three members of Yasser Arafat's security forces also died in the operation. Israeli military sources said troops entered Salfit, about 12 miles from the city of Qalqilya. Reporters said one Palestinian was killed in the raid.

However, Palestinian sources claimed one of the dead was a militant on Israel's wanted list. He was shot dead in his home, while the three others were killed in a gun battle. The sources claimed the Israeli troops were accompanied by tanks and three helicopter gunships.

Today, in a move which will heighten tension further, Mr Sharon said Mr Arafat was "history" and announced he is already holding talks with alternative Palestinian leaders. He warned that if the talks are unsuccessful "the Israeli military will move into the Palestinian territories to see to order there".

Meanwhile Mr Arafat says his authority has suspended its clampdown on extremist groups, saying that ongoing Israeli assaults make such police work impossible.

Officials say they are hamstrung because they cannot risk the political backlash from a clampdown without gaining some immediate benefit from Israel, such as an easing of the blockade on Palestinian areas.

Last night helicopter gunships returned, firing rockets at a Palestinian police station in Ramallah, damaging a nearby Quaker school.

Soldiers also seized the home of Marwan Barghouti, the popular West Bank leader of Mr Arafat's Fatah faction, who is one of the leaders of the uprising.

Israeli politicians are divided on the latest military action, with some on the Right saying it does not go far enough and on the Left that it goes too far.