PLO body urges militants to halt attacks

A top PLO decision-making body yesterday called on Palestinian militants to halt attacks against Israel, charging that the violence gives Israel an excuse to carry out military operations.

The PLO Executive Committee issued its statement in Ramallah. It followed an attack late on Thursday by militants at the Karni crossing between Gaza and Israel that left six Israeli civilians dead, setting off Israeli reprisal raids in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon cut off contacts with the regime of Mahmoud Abbas, sworn in yesterday as the successor to Yasser Arafat as head of the Palestinian Authority.