More than 500 women from 23 countries will cycle across the Middle East to raise awareness for women in conflict situations.

Israeli forces killed Sheik Ahmed Yassin, the founder and spiritual leader of the violent Hamas movement, in a missile attack in Gaza early today, an attack that is expected to to escalate Palestinian-Israeli violence dramatically.

YASSER ARAFAT insisted yesterday he would not be sidelined by a Palestinian political shake-up and said his old nemesis, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, was not ready to pay the price for peace.

ISRAEL has reacted angrily to a ruling

Israel has recalled its ambassador to Belgium and fired off angry letters to King Albert and his government following a Brussels court ruling that Ariel Sharon can be charged with war crimes when he leaves office.

Israeli helicopters fired a missile at a target in Gaza City, witnesses said. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

A leading Palestinian militant has been killed in a car bombing in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

A Belgian court is deciding whether to resume a war crimes investigation against Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, even though the World Court has ruled that he has immunity as a head of state.

The Lebanese government has accused Israel of assassinating a former Christian warlord who planned to testify against Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in a war crimes case in Belgium.

Former Lebanese Christian warlord Elie Hobeika has been killed by a bomb blast at his house, witnesses said.

Israel's Foreign Ministry has accused the BBC of broadcasting blatantly biased reports about the country's Prime Minister in a bid to discredit the politician.