Seven Palestinians killed as Arafat vows to appoint premier

SEVEN Palestinians were killed yesterday five in a mysterious explosion and two by Israeli army fire, while Yasser Arafat affirmed in a letter to Britain’s prime minister Tony Blair that he will honour a pledge to appoint a prime minister.

Also yesterday, Israeli troops arrested Tayseer Khaled, a senior PLO member who Palestinians said had not taken an active role in the 29-month-old conflict with Israel. The Israeli military confirmed the arrest, but did not give a reason.

The Gaza blast went off yesterday afternoon at the home of a member of the Islamic militant group Hamas in the Zaitoun neighbourhood Gaza City. Four Palestinians were killed and three wounded in the blast, witnesses and hospital officials said.