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.