Palestinian militant leader surrenders after day-long siege

JERICHO, West Bank, - Israeli forces have smashed into a West Bank jail with tanks and bulldozers, seizing a Palestinian militant leader after a siege that ignited protests across Palestinian areas.

Ahmed Saadat, accused by Israel of involvement in the 2001 killing of an Israeli cabinet minister, surrendered at Jericho jail with his hands up after a day-long siege. Israeli forces captured five other prominent prisoners that they sought.

Israel's seizure of the grey-haired Saadat, following Palestinian suggestions he might be freed, could strengthen the security credentials of interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert two weeks ahead of a general election that he is expected to win.

In the House of Commons in London, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw strongly denied Palestinian charges of complicity with Israel over the abandonment of the joint UK-US monitoring mission amid accusations from Palestinian leaders that Israel had acted to bolster its standing in elections two weeks away.

A statement issued by the office of the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for a halt to attacks on foreign cultural centres but declared: "The American and British observers bear full responsibility for their withdrawal from Jericho prison this morning without the knowledge of the Palestinian Authority."

But the British government insisted it had repeatedly--and vainly-- raised with the Palestinian Authority violations of the 2002 agreement under which Saadat, the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and other prisoners were held under international supervision.

The siege stirred a wave of unrest in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

At least seven foreigners were kidnapped by militants furious that US and British monitors left the Jericho jail before the raid. Two Australians and an American were later released.

A guard and a prisoner were killed in clashes with the Israelis at the jail where Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) leader Saadat had been held since 2002 under foreign supervision. At least 10 people were wounded.

Islamic militant group Hamas, due to form the next Palestinian government, warned Israel against harming him. The PFLP's military wing said Israel would pay dearly. Palestinian officials accused Olmert of an election stunt.

The United States said it had been in touch with both sides to urge restraint.

Israeli soldiers first blew up the outer wall of the prison compound, then brought up bulldozers which began to take the building apart room by room as guards exchanged fire sporadically with the besieging troops.

Around 300 prisoners were taken out during the raid.

Israel said it launched the operation because it feared the six could be released, as Hamas had suggested after it won a January election. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also said last week that he was prepared to free them.

Israel says Saadat, 51, ordered the killing of Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi in 2001. The PFLP, one of the smaller groups waging a Palestinian uprising, said it assassinated Zeevi to avenge the killing of one of its leaders.

Gideon Meir, deputy director general of Israel's Foreign Ministry, said Israel had no choice but to act against Saadat because Hamas leaders and Abbas had spoken about the possibility of freeing the prisoners.

"All of this also comes about due to the fact that Hamas is part of the new Palestinian Authority," Meir told Reuters.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat called the raid a "massive provocation" that could spark major unrest. Saadat's seizure would weaken Abbas and other moderates, he added.

"I cannot begin to understand why Israel would want all-out war. Today's military assault would seem to suggest that intent," Erekat said.

Major-General Yair Naveh, chief of the Israeli military's central command, said security forces began making plans weeks ago for the raid after learning monitors planned to leave. He denied any cooperation with the United States or Britain.

Those responsible for the minister's killing would be put on trial, he said.

US and British officials said monitors left because the Palestinians had failed to implement requested security improvements. Abbas's Palestinian Authority condemned the move and said it held the United States and Britain responsible for the consequences.

Israel had agreed to allow the Authority to keep Saadat in Jericho prison in a deal to end an Israeli siege of Yasser Arafat's compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah in May 2002.

In Gaza, PFLP militants and protesters set ablaze the British Council and stormed buildings used by the EU and a US group. The British Council building in the West Bank city of Ramallah also came under attack.

Two French, two Australians, an American teacher, a Swiss Red Cross worker and a Korean were seized by militants. The Australians and the American were freed soon after.

One PFLP gunman was killed in a clash with police trying to prevent kidnappings.

The PFLP has Marxist roots and opposes peace talks with Israel. The group, which was at the forefront of plane hijackings in the 1960s and 1970s, is part of Abbas's umbrella Palestine Liberation Organisation.

Hamas also opposes peace talks with Israel, which it seeks to destroy.

- REUTERS, INDEPENDENT