BBC Saturday, 8 September, 2001, 14:45 GMT 15:45 UK Israel rockets Fatah building Israeli helicopter gunships have attacked offices of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah organisation in the West Bank.

At least two gunships hit Fatah's regional headquarters in the al-Bireh suburb of Ramallah, not far from the Jewish settlement of Psagot, but no casualties were reported.

Palestinian witnesses were quoted as saying that damage to the Ramallah offices was severe.

The Israeli army said the operation was in retaliation for Palestinian gun attacks, with one soldier killed and another seriously injured on Thursday.

It accuses Fatah members of regular involvement in attacks.

Palestinian gunmen in Ramallah and Israeli soldiers guarding the Psagot settlement have frequently exchanged fire since the start of the Palestinian uprising last September.

-- Anonymous, September 08, 2001