Sharon calls for ceasefire

Israelis and Palestinians were today waiting to see if eight months of violence would wind down after prime minister Ariel Sharon called for a ceasefire - but rejected a plea to halt building work on West Bank Jewish settlements.

At a televised news conference last night Sharon said: "I call tonight for a total truce in the area, and I say again here that if the Palestinians accept this proposal to stop the fire, we will immediately stop the fire."