Monday, 9 April, 2001, 12:44 GMT 13:44 UK

Israel retaliates for mortar attack

Palestinians said two were injured in Israel's retaliation Israel was hit by mortar bombs fired from areas under Palestinian control on Monday.

The attack, Israeli officials said, amounted to a "declaration of war".

Four mortar bombs were fired at an Israeli army base just across the border from the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli officials.

Israel responded by firing rockets at Palestinian targets in the strip, injuring two civilians and hitting an office belonging to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement.

Rockets

Palestinians said Israelis fired three surface-to-surface rockets at the north Gazan town of Beit Lahiya, in retaliation for the mortar attack.

The rockets hit an abandoned police station, an office belonging to Fatah movement and a civilian home, Palestinian police said.

In the West Bank, a Palestinian man was shot dead overnight on Sunday during an exchange of fire between Israeli an Palestinian forces near the city of Ramallah.

The body of the Palestinian, Tayssir Amouri, was found early on Monday.

Karni crossing closed

Meanwhile, Israel said it had closed the Karni border crossing point between Israel and the Gaza Strip because of Palestinian vandalism at the site.

A spokesman for the co-ordinator of Israeli activity in the Palestinian territories, Yardern Vatikay, said the Palestinians were only damaging their own interests by vandalising the cargo crossing point that brings essential supplies from Israel.

He described the vandalism as very severe, and said equipment in a warehouse at the crossing had been smashed and part of the building damaged by fire.

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2001