Hamas leaders marked for death, warns Sharon

HAMAS leaders are "marked for death" and won't have a moment's rest, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon warned yesterday, after Israel failed in an attempt to kill the top echelon of Hamas with a 550-pound bomb dropped on a Gaza City apartment. Israel also closed the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In Washington, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said yesterday that the next Palestinian prime minister needs clear control over security forces to crack down on terrorist groups or progress on plan for Mideast peace will stall.

"That person has to have political authority and the determination to go after terrorism," said Mr Powell, and allow for movement on the US-developed peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians, known as the road map.

"If that person does not make a solid commitment to follow the road map, go after terrorism and stop these terrorist attacks, then it's not clear that we'll be able to move forward," he said.

Hamas threatened unprecedented revenge for Saturday's attack, with spokesman Abdel Aziz Rantisi saying Israel had "opened the gates of hell" with the attack on Hamas founder, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, who escaped with a minor injury.

Israel declared a high security alert and imposed a blanket closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Security officials said the Shin Bet security service tightened protection of Israeli leaders.

"They are marked for death," Mr Sharon was quoted as saying, referring to Hamas leaders. "We won't give them a moment's rest. We will continue to hunt them because they have only one objective: the destruction of Israel."

Security officials said Mr Sharon and his military chiefs learned early on Saturday that Hamas leaders, including Yassin, his top aide Ismail Hanieh and chief bombmakers Mohammed Deif and Adnan al-Ghoul would meet at the apartment of a Hamas activist, Dr Marwan Abu Ras.

By mid-afternoon, some 10 top Hamas members were assembled at the home of Ras, a university lecturer, the Israeli officials said. With Mr Sharon giving the final go-ahead, an F-16 fighter plane dropped a laser-guided bomb on the home.

The top floor was still under construction, and Yassin and the others apparently were on the ground floor. Sixteen people in the house were hurt, including Yassin. Mr Arafat called Yassin later to congratulate him on his survival, said Hanieh.

After being whisked away from Abu Ras' house, Yassin surfaced later at a Gaza City mosque and threatened revenge. Mr Sharon "has to understand that he will pay the price for all his crimes, and the Israeli people will pay a high price as well", Yassin told supporters. However, the Hamas military wing, Izzedine al-Qassam, said yesterday it was not threatening Mr Sharon personally.