Peace talks go on without progress

JERUSALEM -- Responding to U.S. prodding, Israel and Palestinians pressed on with truce talks Friday despite another Palestinian suicide bombing -- the third in three days -- but neither side reported progress.

The Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade, a militia linked to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, claimed responsibility for the latest attack. The bomber killed himself and wounded an Israeli army officer at a military roadblock just inside the West Bank.

The Israeli military said the bomber had intended to blow himself up in Israel, but detonated the explosives prematurely when he was stopped by soldiers in a spot check. The assailant had been riding in a van with two other men, who fled after the explosion, said Brig. Gen. Gershon Yitzhak, commander of Israeli forces in the West Bank.

In the Gaza Strip, troops shot and killed a Palestinian trying to break through a fence into Israel, Israeli military sources said. Palestinian officials said the Israelis had informed them that a man had been shot dead but they were not told the circumstances.

Suicide bombings on Wednesday and Thursday were carried out by the militant Islamic Jihad and by the Al Aqsa militia, respectively. In all, 10 Israelis were killed and dozens wounded in those attacks.

Cheney's trip

The bombings threatened tentative plans for Vice President Dick Cheney to meet with Arafat next week in Egypt. "As of now, the conditions have not been met" for any return trip to the region by Cheney, White House spokesman Sean McCormack said Friday.

Palestinian sources in the West Bank town of Nablus said Friday's attack was ordered by a faction of Al Aqsa that is engaged in a power struggle with veteran local militia leader Nasser Awais. The internal rivalry can only complicate any effort Arafat makes to bring the militants in line.

In an unprecedented public statement Friday, Awais declared himself overall head of the Al Aqsa militia in the Palestinian areas and, in defiance of Arafat's cease-fire call, said his organization would continue to carry out attacks.

On Friday morning, U.S. mediator Anthony Zinni met Arafat and delivered a stern message, saying the Palestinian leader had not done enough to prevent attacks on Israelis.

During a photo opportunity, the tension between Arafat and Zinni was apparent, and neither tried to hide it as they looked at the cameras -- Zinni stern-faced and Arafat dejected. Arafat leaned his head on his left hand.

Friday's truce talks, held at the urging of the United States, lasted for over three hours, but no agreement was reached, Israeli Defense Ministry spokesman Yarden Vatikai said. "We raised of course what is demanded of the Palestinians in order to stop this awful terror," he said.