Sharon demands Palestinians crush militant groups

ISRAELI leader Ariel Sharon yesterday demanded that the Palestinians smash militant groups, saying he would freeze peace efforts and take military action if they did not heed his call.

"There will be no diplomatic progress until the Palestinians take vigorous action to wipe out the terror groups and their infrastructure in the Palestinian Authority's territory," Mr Sharon said.

Mr Sharon said leaders of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad faction in Syria ordered the attack that killed four Israelis in Tel Aviv on Friday, violence that shattered a de facto truce.