Suicide bomber wounds three soldiers

A Palestinian suicide bomber on a bicycle blew himself up near an Israeli army vehicle in the Gaza Strip today, lightly injuring three soldiers.

The Islamic extremist group Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was carried out by Shadi Nabaheen, a 19-year-old from the Boureij refugee camp.

It was the fourth suicide bombing by Hamas since Saturday evening. Nine Israelis have been killed and 23 wounded in the four blasts.

Palestinian suicide bombers usually approach their targets on foot, but there have been two other bombers who rode bikes. In one such blast in 1998, three soldiers were killed at a Gaza army post.