Straw condemns suicide bombings

The bomber was said to have been disguised as a religious Jew

Jack Straw has condemned the latest suicide bombing in Israel which killed seven passengers on a bus on the outskirts of Jerusalem.

The attack - in which the Palestinian bomber also perished - came within hours of the first top-level summit between Israel and Palestinian leaders in nearly three years.

The Israeli premier Ariel Sharon and Palestinian prime minister Abu Mazen politicians came together for the first time to discuss the US roadmap for peace in the Middle East.

The UK foreign secretary urged both sides not to let the attack undermine the latest drive for peace.

Condemnation

"I utterly condemn today's suicide bombing in Jerusalem - a brutal and unjustifiable act - and I offer my deepest condolences to the families of those killed and injured," he said.

Mr Straw says he hopes peace talks will still proceed

"It appears that these attacks were deliberately timed by rejectionists to derail the peace process.

"Although it is extremely difficult, we hope that all parties will ensure that they do not succeed."

The suicide attack came at the beginning of the Israeli working week.

A second suicide bomber blew himself up as emergency crews arrived at the scene of the blast in the north of the city - but failed to cause any more casualties.

Postponed talks

Mr Sharon has delayed leaving the country for a scheduled meeting with President George W Bush in Washington.

The Israeli army imposed a temporary curfew on the West Bank town of Ramallah, in the belief that at least one of the bombers came from there.

And the Israeli security cabinet was meeting on Sunday to discuss further responses to the attacks.

Mr Sharon's first official meeting with his Palestinian counterpart focused on security, but talks were inconclusive.

Two Israelis - a husband and his pregnant wife - were killed in another suicide attack in the West Bank town of Hebron shortly before the talks began.