West Bank offensive goes on vows Sharon

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says the military offensive in the West Bank will continue until Palestinian militias have been crushed.

Sharon has been under growing US pressure to withdraw troops from Palestinian cities.

He spoke after receiving word that 13 Israeli soldiers were killed in fighting in the West Bank refugee camp of Jenin.

"It was a tough campaign, a campaign that we are continuing until we will fulfil the decision of the Cabinet that calls for the destruction of the infrastructure of the terror groups," Sharon said .

"This is a battle for the survival of the Jewish people, for survival of the state of Israel," he said.

Army spokesman Brigadier General Ron Kitrey said the soldiers were killed in a carefully timed double ambush.

One group of soldiers was walking in a narrow alley when linked charges went off, killing several of the soldiers and collapsing a house, Kitrey said.

Just a few yards away, Israeli soldiers who had entered the courtyard of a house came under heavy fire from Palestinian gunmen on rooftops, and several more soldiers were killed, he said.

Another soldier was killed in the West Bank city of Nablus, apparently by friendly fire, the military said.