West Bank checkpoint bombed

Israeli soldiers at the checkpoint are said to verify the identity of thousands of Palestinians a day

A car bomb has exploded near a busy Israeli army checkpoint outside Jerusalem, killing at least one person.

Another 13 people are said to have been hurt in the blast near the Qalandiya checkpoint, on a road leading to the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Israeli media reports say a suicide bomber who also died is believed to have detonated explosives either hidden on his person or rigged to the vehicle.

The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades told news agencies it was responsible.

It said the bombing was meant to avenge the killing of a leader of the group by Israel last month.

Security alert

Witnesses told Reuters news agency that the blast occurred after Israeli border police declared a security alert and started searching the area between Qalandiya and al-Ram checkpoints.

Palestinian security services said the car exploded near the Qalandiya barrier.

A Palestinian was reported killed and casualties are said to include both Israelis and Palestinians.

Correspondents say a pool of blood was visible on the ground. Firefighters put out a blaze in a car.

The Qalandiya crossing was reportedly reopened to pedestrian traffic about an hour after the blast.