The Hindu : Israeli troops keep Arafat confined

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 31, 2002

Front Page

Front Page

Israeli troops keep Arafat confined

RAMALLAH (West Bank) MARCH 30. Tightening their hold on this Palestinian town, Israeli troops rounded up hundreds of men on Saturday, enforced a strict curfew, traded fire with gunmen and kept Yasser Arafat confined to his three-storeyed office building; a mobile phone was the Palestinian leader's only link to the world.

Arafat was without electricity and water, and food and medical supplies were running low, his aides said. The bodies of five armed Palestinians, some in police uniform, were found on Saturday on the third floor of a six-storeyed building. The Army said they were killed a day earlier in a firefight at close range with the Israeli forces. At Mr. Arafat's compound, a security guard, wounded earlier in fighting with the Israeli forces, died.

Totally, 11 Palestinians were killed in Israel's two-day incursion into Ramallah. Two Israeli soldiers have also been killed.

Tanks entered the nearby town of Beituniya, surrounded the military compound of the West Bank security chief, Jibril Rajoub. Tanks also rumbled into the Palestinian town of Beit Jalla, adjacent to Bethlehem, where Christians are observing Easter weekend. However, the troops did not enter Bethlehem.

In New York, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution today calling for Israel to withdraw its troops from Palestinian cities, including Ramallah.

— AP

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

Stories in this Section

'Fidayeen' strike at temple in Jammu

India, China plan push to economic ties

Israeli troops keep Arafat confined

Abdul Gani Lone to get back his passport

No de-escalation: Fernandes

5 killed as jail siege ends

ISD rates lowered

Quake hits Kutch.

Interest rates cut on deposits

Queen Mother dead