Arafat ally Rajab seriously hurt in ambush

Palestinian intelligence chief Tareq Abu Rajab was seriously wounded in the chest in an ambush by gunmen today. Two of his bodyguards were killed in the attack on his convoy, Palestinian officials said.

The shooting was the latest unrest in Gaza, which has seen a wave of kidnappings, protests and other violence over the past month.

The violence has been linked to growing criticism of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, as well as a power struggle among rival Palestinian factions ahead of a planned Israeli withdrawal from Gaza next year.

Tareq Abu Rajab was travelling in a two-vehicle convoy in northern Gaza City when shots rang out, witnesses said. One of the vehicles flipped over.

Palestinian hospital officials said two bodyguards were killed in the shooting, and two others were wounded. Officials said that Abu Rajab would be transferred to an Israeli hospital with better facilities.

There was no immediate word on who carried out the shooting. Security officials said they had opened an investigation.

Rajab, who keeps a low public profile, is an old ally of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Most recently, he had been in charge of security for Palestinian diplomatic missions abroad, officials said.