Israel hits Palestinian security chief's home

Israeli tanks have fired three shells at the home of a top Palestinian security chief, Palestinian officials have said.

Israeli tanks have fired three shells at the home of a top Palestinian security chief, Palestinian officials have said.

The Palestinian Authority immediately issued a statement today accusing Israel of trying to "assassinate" West Bank Preventive Security chief Mr Jibril Rajoub.

It has accused Israel of deliberately killing at least 30 activists to quash the eight-month-old Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation.

A Palestinian official said Mr Rajoub was sleeping in his Ramallah house when the shells struck. He and his family, who were also in the house, were unhurt, but three bodyguards were wounded, the official said.

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Television footage showed Mr Rajoub being whisked away by security guards from the house, which had at least one hole in brickwork at the front and another through a garden wall.

The Israeli army was unable to comment immediately on the report. The army said earlier that shots were fired at an Israeli position near Ramallah which is about one kilometre from Mr Rajoub's house.

At least 441 Palestinians, 13 Israeli Arabs and 87 Israelis have been killed since a revolt erupted last September after peace negotiations deadlocked.