US pulls envoy out of Middle East

America will not now send its special envoy back to the Middle East after a fresh eruption of violence in the West Bank.

General Anthony Zinni's mission had been marred by terror attacks and Israeli operations. A visit last week was overshadowed by Israel's capture of a ship laden with arms it said were bound for the Palestinian Authority.

General Zinni's withdrawal is seen as a US protest against both sides in the conflict. In his place the US assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, William Burns, is arriving in Israel today for talks. Two Israeli civilians were killed yesterday, and another wounded, in attacks at Bethlehem and Givat Ze'ev.