Israeli forces shelled Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's private offices in Ramallah and demolished other buildings, tightening a siege of his headquarters today in a revenge attack suicide bombings in Israel.
A Palestinian photographer holed up with Mr Arafat in his main building, the last still intact in the West Bank complex after a day-long assault, said Mr Arafat was showered with dust when a tank shell hit the floor above him yesterday but that he was unhurt.
The siege in the West Bank city of Ramallah, which followed back-to-back Palestinian bombings which killed seven people and shattered a six-week lull in such attacks, drew censure worldwide and raised fears of a new surge of violence as Washington considers military action against Iraq.
Israel said the goal was not to harm Mr Arafat, whom they blame for attacks on Israelis, but to tighten his isolation and force the handover of wanted militants believed to be holed up inside.
But Palestinian officials expressed fears for Mr Arafat's safety as army bulldozers tore down the bridge linking the two wings of his building, demolished the main access staircase and destroyed most other structures in the compound.
By midnight last night, military vehicles around the compound fell silent. But Israel's chief army spokeswoman, Brigadier Ruth Yaron, said the standoff would continue "until every suspected terrorist is in our custody."