Arafat and Fatah leaders to choose ministers in Palestinian government

YASSER ARAFAT and leaders of his Fatah movement met yesterday to choose ministers in the new Palestinian government, and he reported progress in truce talks with Islamic militant groups.

In the Gaza Strip, Israel staged its first major incursion in several months, killing Jihad Abu Shwairah, a leader of the Hamas military wing, in a shoot-out in the Nusseirat refugee camp. Hundreds of soldiers were involved, an apparent signal to Hamas that Israel would not limit itself to airstrikes in Gaza.

Israel was trying to arrest the 34-year-old Hamas militant, said an army commander, identified only as Lieut Col Ofer. When soldiers surrounded the house, Mr Shwairah let off eight bursts of gunfire, seriously wounding one of the soldiers. Two other soldiers were moderately wounded in the operation, the army said.