Hamas refuses to join ceasefire

Scattered reports of gun fire in the West Bank and demonstrators in the Gaza Strip calling for the intefadeh to continue testified today to the fragility of a ceasefire called by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

Though Islamic militant groups have yet to clearly say whether they will cooperate - and terror group Hamas denied earlier reports they had joined the truce - Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said a reduction of Palestinian violence in recent days shows a convincing ceasefire had begun.