Hamas Cabinet member detained by Israelis

ISRAELI border police briefly detained a Hamas Cabinet minister yesterday, the first time Israel took into custody a member of the Hamas government since the Islamic militants took power last week.

The move came the same day as Israeli president Moshe Katsav formally chose acting prime minister Ehud Olmert to form Israel's next government. Mr Olmert said he would work quickly to put together a coalition that was committed to carrying out his West Bank withdrawal plan.

Hamas member Khaled Abu Arafa, minister of Jerusalem affairs, was detained with his bodyguard when he was on his way to Izzariya, a West Bank suburb of Jerusalem.