Hamas deplores arrest of senior militant

The militant Islamic group Hamas has condemned the arrest of one of its senior figures, Mohammed Deif, by the Palestinian Authority, and has called for his release.

A Hamas statement also warned that Mr Deif should not be handed over to the Israelis, who accuse him of masterminding a series of suicide bombings in 1996.

A Hamas leader in Gaza, Ismail Abu Shanab, said Mr Deif was arrested on Thursday evening by Palestinian security forces in Gaza City.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service