Israel captures top Arafat aide

Israel has captured a close aide to Yasser Arafat, thought to be a leader of the current uprising.

Marwan Barghouti has been taken into custody by the Israeli military in a village near Ramallah the town in which Mr Arafat is under virtual house arrest.

Barghouti, sometimes mentioned as a possible Arafat successor, is on Israel's wanted list for allegedly masterminding terror attacks.

He is a militant leader in Arafat's Fatah movement and an outspoken advocate of continued attacks on Israelis.

Palestinian security officials said the Israeli army raided a house in Ramallah, arresting Barghouti, one of his bodyguards and Fatah official Ziad Abu Ain.

Barghouti, who picked up fluent Hebrew in Israeli jails, is a leading figure, some say the leader, in the Al Aqsa Brigades.

The Al Aqsa Brigades militia has claimed dozens of shooting attacks against Israelis and has recently begun staging suicide bombings as well.