Arafat condemns 'punk' bomber

The Palestinian Authority has condemned a suicide bombing near Tel Aviv that killed two Israelis and injured over 30, describing it as a "terrorist attack".

The attack took place in a pedestrian mall in the centre of Rishon Letzion, south of Tel Aviv. Israeli police commander Haim Cohen said that last night's bomber had been of European appearance.

"His hair was dyed blond, short, punk-looking," he said. "I'm sure he disguised himself so as not to arouse suspicion at the scene." A police spokesman said "there were no general warnings" of attacks before the bombing took place.

In a statement in the Palestinian news agency Wafa, the Palestinian Authority said it was "calling upon the Palestinian people to declare their condemnation of such terrorist attacks, which constitute a certain danger on the Palestinian people".

The al-Aqsa Martyr's Brigade, affiliated-with Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction, claimed responsibility for the attack.

But the statement said the bombing gives Israel an "excuse to continue its aggression (against) our people".

In Washington, State Department official Lynn Cassel denounced the bombing "in the strongest possible terms," calling on Arafat to show leadership and warned that such attacks " could not help the Palestinians achieve their national aspirations".

Meanwhile, a bomb set fire to a tanker at Israel's biggest fuel depot today in Tel Aviv. The depot is close to three highways and surrounded by residential areas. "A huge disaster has been prevented," said a police spokesman after the fire was put out.

And the Israeli embassy in Paris was destroyed by fire. The building was undergoing renovation work. Police chief Jean-Paul Proust said: "At this moment, we have no indication of the cause of this fire."