Palestinian activist killed in blast

Deaths have continued to mount on both sides

A member of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction has been killed in Nablus in an explosion in a public telephone box.

We will not start unless it will be completely quiet, complete cessation - we'll not move forward

Ariel Sharon

The dead man, 29-year-old Osama Jawabreh, is reported to have been on Israel's wanted list of Palestinians involved in anti-Israeli violence.

Two young children were also hurt in the blast - a brother and sister who happened to be passing the booth and sustained shrapnel injuries, Palestinian radio reported.

Correspondents say about 30 Palestinian activists have been assassinated by a variety of methods by Israel since their latest uprising began last September - including exploding public phones.

Sharon wants 10 days of "complete calm"

The blast followed a new demand from Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for a end to violence by Palestinians for 10 days before the two sides can move to the next phase of a US-brokered ceasefire.

"We will not start unless it will be completely quiet, complete cessation. We'll not move forward," he said in a speech on Saturday night.

Mr Sharon's security cabinet has given a green light to "pinpoint attacks" against Palestinian militants despite the ceasefire.

Ceasefire in peril

Correspondents said the ceasefire was already hanging by a thread when the security cabinet announcement was made on Friday.

Marwan Barghuti, a senior Fatah official in the West Bank, told the BBC that Sunday's blast showed the Israelis had decided to end the truce.

The next phase of the US plan, negotiated by CIA director George Tenet, envisages a six-week cooling-off period followed by a return to political negotiations.

One Palestinian casualty was killed crossing the Gaza-Israel border

More than a dozen people have died in violence since the ceasefire began, including eight Palestinians and six Israelis. Both sides accuse the other of violating the ceasefire terms.

Sunday's blast came as Mr Sharon was preparing to fly to London for talks with UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. He then flies on to Washington for his second White House consultation in four months.

His departure was overshadowed by a bomb scare at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport.

Passengers, including a press team accompanying Mr Sharon, were evacuated from the departure area following the discovery of a suspicious object.