A Palestinian detonated a donkey cart laden with explosives near Israeli soldiers in Gaza today as UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan pursued a mission to shore up a US-brokered truce.
Mr Annan, who has urged Israelis and Palestinians to "seize the moment" to transform the fragile ceasefire into a strengthened peace effort after eight months of bloodshed, is due to meet Israeli Foreign Minister Mr Shimon Peres later in the day.
In the Gaza attack, which occurred four days after the ceasefire began, the soldiers shot the bomber in the leg when he jumped from the cart seconds before it exploded about 50 yards from an Israeli armoured personnel carrier.
An army spokesman there had been no Israeli casualties but that the Palestinian had been taken to hospital in Israel. The donkey died in the blast, near the southern village of Dahaniya.
Sources in Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office said Palestinian President Mr Yasser Arafat had asked to meet Mr Peres and Mr Annan in the West Bank city of Ramallah but MrSharon had turned down the request.
Asked about the report, Israeli cabinet minister Mr Danny Naveh told Israel Radio:"Arafat should first stop the terror and violent incidents instead of jumping so quickly, ashe perhaps wants, towards political talks."Meanwhile, a meeting scheduled for today between Israeli and Palestinian security chiefs, to monitor the truce and set a timeline for further implementation, was cancelled, a Palestinian official said, giving no reason.
Israel Radio said the Palestinians had postponed it until Monday to protest at what they saw as Israel's failure to adhere fully to the plan, drawn up by U.S. CIA Director George Tenet.
Israel has begun to ease itsblockade of Palestinian areas and withdraw troops from positions occupied since a Palestinian uprising erupted in September. But the Palestinians say the measures have been cosmetic so far.