A PALESTINIAN policeman yesterday blew himself up on a crowded bus outside Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's residence killing 10 passengers and wounding 50 bystanders.

A Palestinian police swapped his uniform for a suicide bomber’s outfit today and blew himself up on a crowded bus outside Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s residence killing 10 passengers and wounding 50 bystanders.

Michael Schumacher is contemplating a record tally of wins this season.

Israeli troops pulled out of the Bethlehem area early today, Palestinians said, boosting chances for a truce to end nearly 18 months of violence.

Palestinian security officials said the 250 Israeli tanks that moved into Ramallah on Tuesday, paralysing the West Bank commercial and administrative centre, began rolling out of the town and the adjacent Amari refugee camp after 2am.

Israeli forces killed 32 Palestinians today, including two children and a general - the deadliest day in 17 months of fighting.

Israel has killed at least 24 Palestinians this morning as the violence in the Middle East continues to escalate on a daily basis.

Israel said tonight it had suspended a planned withdrawal from two West Bank towns after Palestinian gunmen fired on its soldiers.