Two Hamas gunmen shot dead

Jerusalem - An undercover Israeli army unit shot dead two alleged Hamas gunmen in the West Bank town of Hebron during searches in the wake of the Jerusalem suicide bombing which killed five people earlier this week, writes Eric Silver.

Members of the "Duvdevan" squad, who often operate disguised as Arabs, killed Ibrahim Qawasmeh, 25, and Nader Shihadeh, 21, in a brief gun battle. The bodies were removed, the house razed and a curfew imposed. The chief of Central Command, Major-General Ilan Biran, said the two were wanted men "on their way to murder Jews in Hebron". Two automatic weapons, a pistol and a grenade were found in the building.