Ramallah, Oct 20: Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei said today's air strikes by the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip were undermining attempts to agree a mutual ceasefire. "Such aggression as we have seen in Gaza today is not acceptable and will not help us as a government to achieve a mutual ceasefire," Qorei told reporters here after a meeting of his emergency government.

Three Palestinians were killed and 19 wounded in three separate Israeli air strikes around Gaza City on Monday.

Meanwhile, Qorei said that his government wants to organise general elections in the west bank and Gaza Strip in June 2004.

"One of the most important questions for our government concerns elections which will take place in June 2004," Qorei said.

He said his government would act to hold presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections.
Bureau Report