Two Palestinians killed in Jerusalem explosion

Two Palestinians have died in an explosion in Jerusalem after Israeli police apparently thwarted their attempts to attack a shopping mall in the city.

Israel said it received intelligence reports of the planned attack and stopped a car as it drove from the outskirts of Bethlehem towards the Malha shopping mall.

Police said that, when they ordered the car to stop, it exploded, killing two passengers. The incident has cast doubt over whether the Israeli authorities will allow Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to travel to the Arab League summit in Lebanon this week.

Israel has said Mr Arafat must stop all attacks by Palestinian militants and enforce a ceasefire if he is to be allowed to travel out of the occupied territories.