West Bank battles 'trap' children

Israeli authorities are facing allegations of brutality

Four Welsh children are trapped with their father at the centre of Israel's military offensive in the West Bank.

The children, aged 10 to 16, from Barry near Cardiff are reportedly trapped in an apartment block as violence and the controversial crackdown against Palestinian militants continue.

Local MP John Smith has written to UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw on behalf of their mother, who is separated from their Palestinian father.

He wants the two boys and two girls removed from the Israeli-occupied military zone and taken to safety.

Their flat has been commandeered by Israeli army officials who are rifling through Arab settlements amid reports of heavy gunfire and killings around them.

Wednesday night, more than 100 tanks and armoured vehicles rolled in to the largest city, leaving only Hebron and Jericho in Palestinian hands.

Amid fierce exchanges of fire, four refugee camps are surrounded.

Hundreds of Palestinians are reportedly detained and there were reports of causalities on both sides.

Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat remains cornered at his Ramallah compound, south of Nablus.

Safety moves

The United Nations agency responsible for Palestinian refugees says thousands of people throughout the West Bank have been trapped with dwindling supplies of food and water.

Eileen Sutton, mother of the Welsh-born children currently has outstanding issues with the four's Arabic father.

John Smith has called on Jack Straw to act

They were kept in the Middle East in 1999, she said - a year before the Palestinian intifada which has led to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's new crackdown.

Ms Sutton wants to bring her children back to Wales from the region and has won the support of Vale of the Glamorgan MP.

John Smith asked the foreign secretary to have them moved to the British consulate.

The consul, however, cannot enter Nablus to make a check as it remains sealed controlled by the Israeli army.

Gunshots ringing

Ms Sutton's solicitor Ann-Marie Hutchinson said her client was extremely concerned.

"She has been for a significant period of time now," she told BBC Radio Wales.

"The children had been ordered to be living with their mother.

"She managed to speak to Fatima this morning and, worryingly, could hear gunshots in the background."

Gunshots have also rang around the Church of the Nativity at Bethlehem, further south, where 200 Palestinians are reportedly trapped.

Speaking to an Italian radio station, a priest from the church said Israeli soldiers had stormed the church compound.

Mr Sharon has request a request to allow a European Union delegation to enter the controlled areas, which also include Ramallah.

Egypt has cut off links with the government and US President George Bush called on Thursday for a halt to Israeli incursions while also demanding an end to Palestinian terrorism.