Palestinian police take over Bethlehem as road map moves ahead

WITH sirens blaring, Palestinian police yesterday moved into the West Bank town of Bethlehem, the second area handed over by Israel under a US-backed Mideast peace plan.

Residents clapped as a column of police in dark blue uniforms marched from their barracks toward the centre of town.

Paving the way for the handover, Israeli troops withdrew from part of the northern Gaza Strip last Sunday, in line with the "road map" peace plan announced by US President George W Bush at a June 4 Mideast summit.