Police face mob fury over Hamas chief's arrest

Palestinians have fired machine guns in the air, stoned police and attacked Jewish houses after the founder of Hamas was arrested.

More than 600 supporters gathered near the home of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.

Protesters carrying guns and throwing rocks demanded his release.

He makes frequent statements on radio and television supporting Hamas attacks but claims he does not plan them.

Some of the demonstrators set a car on fire and others fired their automatic weapons in the air.

The intense resistance was a hint of the trouble Yasser Arafat is likely to encounter if he bends to US and Israeli demands to sharpen his crackdown on the increasingly popular militants responsible for a wave of terror attacks on Israel.

One supporter said: "We came to show our solidarity with our sheikh and to reflect our rejection of any thought of political detention, and to reiterate our commitment to continue the intifada resistance."

Palestine says Ahmed Yassin will be allowed no visitors except for relatives, and he will have his telephones cut off.

It is Yasser Arafat's boldest move yet against Hamas.