Arafat seeks support over Jerusalem

Orient House under heavily-armed Israeli guard

Yasser Arafat is calling for international pressure on Israel to end its occupation of unofficial Palestinian headquarters in Jerusalem.

The Palestinian leader has written to world leaders asking them to intervene urgently, and accusing the Israelis of breaking the terms of the two sides' 1993 peace accord.

Israel committed itself not to attack Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem

Saeb Erekat,
Palestinian spokesman

In a highly symbolic move, Israeli forces seized Orient House as part of retaliation for Thursday's devastating Jerusalem suicide bomb, which killed 15 Israelis - and brought more calls for restraint.

Clashes broke out outside the building for a second day on Saturday as Israeli security forces kept about 100 furious Palestinian demonstrators at bay.

Mr Arafat's appeal came as other Palestinian leaders warned the occupation of the house would escalate the conflict.

The West Bank leader of Mr Arafat's Fatah movement, Marwan Barghouti, declared a general strike for Monday in the Palestinian territories to denouce the seizure of Orient House.

Scuffles for a second day at Orient House

He urged Muslims and Arabs throughout the world to join the protests.

Hospital officials in Gaza say two Palestinians shot and wounded on Friday by Israeli troops have died. Reports say the Israelis fired live rounds during the clash near the Karni crossing.

Mr Arafat has sent his letter to the presidents of the United States, Russia and China, as well as to the United Nations and the European Union, according to a spokesman, Saeb Erekat.

"He accompanied these messages with a copy of a letter in which Israel commits itself not to attack Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem," Mr Erekat said.

Earlier, US President George W Bush expressed his frustration at the cycle of violence, saying both Israel and the Palestinians had to do more to break it.

He urged Mr Arafat to take action to apprehend those behind Thursday's suicide bomb.

'Escalation'

These actions... increase the risk of further deterioration of the political situation

US State Department

The attack was the most deadly since a Palestinian suicide bomber killed 20 Israelis in Tel Aviv on 1 June - and the worst by far in Jerusalem during the ongoing 10-month Palestinian uprising.

But the US State Department has criticised Israel for seizing Palestinian political institutions in and around Jerusalem, calling the move "a serious political escalation" of the conflict.

Fifteen people were killed by a Palestinian suicide bomber in Jerusalem

Reports say Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is refusing to hand back Orient House, which Israeli forces took over early on Friday morning.

The Israeli flag flew from its roof for most of Friday, a highly provocative gesture.

Israeli Government spokesman Dore Gold says Israel's actions showed Mr Arafat that attacks by Palestinian militants would result in "political reverses".

Most of the victims of Thursday's bombing were buried on Friday, including five members from one family who were buried in Jerusalem's main cemetery.