Stop the slaughter, says Arafat

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat today appealed to his people to stop attacking Israeli civilians, after the second suicide bombing in Jerusalem in two days killed seven Israelis and injured 35.

Mr Arafat called for the halt after warning that the attacks "have given the Israeli government the excuse to reoccupy our land".

As the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades - affiliated with Mr Arafat's Fatah movement - claimed responsibility for the latest bombing, he attempted to head off international outrage with a "full and comprehensive condemnation for all kinds of operations that target Israeli civilians".

He said the bombings "do not have anything to do with our legal right of resisting the Israeli occupation and our right to defend our existence and holy places".

Claiming that the Palestinian Authority has already "taken many measures against those who were behind" the attacks, he added: "I have to be honest with you - these operations must be totally stopped." Otherwise, he warned, the result would be the "full Israeli occupation of our lands".

But even as he spoke, the crisis prompted by the wave of suicide bombings intensified. Israeli helicopters and warplanes pounded buildings in the Gaza Strip, wounding 13 Palestinians.

Israeli forces moved into Bethlehem and nearby Dheisheh refugee camp, declaring a curfew and taking over controlling positions in the town. Troops moved into Beitunia, a suburb of Ramallah, and searched for suspects. An Israeli statement said soldiers would remain in the two locations "until the mission's goals are accomplished." Israeli troops were in control of two other towns, Jenin and Qalqiliya, setting up command posts and enforcing curfews.

Yesterday's attack was at a bus stop near a busy intersection in northern Jerusalem, in an area claimed by both sides. On one side is the Jewish French Hill, and on the other is the Palestinian neighbourhood of Shuafat.

The bomber was dropped off by a car which is reported to have sped away into a Palestinian area of the city.

The blast left the wide street littered with personal belongings and body parts. Rescue workers covered an overturned pram with black plastic sheeting. An older child was also among the victims.

Jerusalem police chief Mickey Levy said: "The bomber ran to the bus stop. Police officers chased him. When he reached the bus stop he detonated a powerful bomb."

Ana Masilov said: "I saw the bomber torn to shreds and all my clothes were covered with the bomber's blood. My dress and legs and hands, everything was soaked in his blood."

David Baker, an official in Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office, said the attack "shows that Palestinian terror knows no bounds".

There were also diplomatic repercussions. President Bush scrapped plans to deliver a speech today outlining his vision of a Palestinian state.

The White House condemned the bombing and said its immediate aftermath was not the right time for the President to set out his ideas on Middle East peace.

His spokesman said: "It's hard to get people to focus on peace today when they're still suffering from the consequences of terrorism as we speak.

"The President believes that Israel is in the middle of recovering from a very serious attack and that Israel has a right to defend itself."