US criticises Israel over attacks

The Israeli attacks caused considerable damage

The United States has expressed serious concern about recent Israeli attacks on Palestinian targets.

They were described as "counterproductive" by a US State Department spokesman.

The Israelis launched two air strikes within 24 hours against the Palestinian security compound in Gaza City, injuring more than 45 people.

The blasts shook the centre of Gaza

In Hebron, Palestinian demonstrators stormed a jail and freed at least 10 prisoners, amid fears that detainees might be targeted by Israeli air strikes.

Hours earlier, protesters had unsuccessfully attempted to free prisoners from a jail in Gaza City.

In Hebron, prisoners belonging to the militant groups Islamic Jihad and Hamas were freed, including Islamic Jihad leader Mohammed Sidr, whom Israel tried to kill last year.

US concerns

"We're seriously concerned about Israeli attacks over the past several days on Palestinian Authority facilities, particularly in areas that are heavily populated by civilians," said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher.

But he also had harsh words for the Palestinians and their use of a previously unused type of rocket.

He said the firing of the Qassam-2 rocket, manufactured by the Islamic militant group Hamas, was "deeply troubling".

He said that Mr Arafat must "act now to halt this kind of dangerous and provocative escalation".

Air raids

Monday's Israeli strikes on Gaza City came in two waves, about 30 minutes apart, with attack helicopters and F-16 warplanes firing seven missiles at the Saraya security and prison compound. Guards said they had evacuated prisoners to a safer site.

Palestinian hospital officials said at least 37 people were injured in the air raids, while the loud explosions which rocked the area sent schoolchildren and other passers-by scattering in panic.

Arafat: Angry at bombing of prison buildings

Among the buildings destroyed in the raids were the command post for Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Force 17 guard, a transportation complex and a scientific unit.

Most of the injured, who included police and journalists, had gone to the scene of the first raids and were caught in the second wave of attacks.

The Israeli attacks came after Palestinians apparently tested a new type of home-made rocket on Sunday, firing it into southern Israel for the first time.

The same day also saw Palestinian gunmen kill two female soldiers and wound up to 30 others near an army base in southern Israel.

Arafat's colleagues

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon blames Mr Arafat for the ongoing violence in the Middle East and has held talks with senior Palestinian officials Ahmed Qorei and Mahmoud Abbas, whom he believes might be more willing to deal with the militants who attack Israelis.

But the Palestinian leader told the BBC that Mr Qorei and Mr Abbas are "my colleagues" and "in the same boat".

"[The Israelis] have to deal with the Palestinian people, who elected Yasser Arafat and who will elect after Arafat any leader, any president," he said.

Mr Arafat said he was doing all he could to control the militants.

And he flew into a rage at a question suggesting that suspects who were meant to have been in prison were still at large.

"You are repeating their big lies... they have destroyed all our prisons, and you are coming to ask me these bad questions, and wrong questions. Be fair," he snapped.