Jenin, May 27: The Israeli Army staged a raid today with tanks and other armoured vehicles into the west bank city and refugee camp of Jenin, as well as three nearby villages, Palestinian security sources said. Exchanges of fire and an explosion were heard in Jenin and the refugee camp, which were placed under a curfew by the Israeli forces, the sources said.

Meanwhile, Israeli defence minister Shaul Mofaz barred four officials of the opposition Labour Party visiting Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah today, his ministry said. An official said Mofaz ordered the visit stopped, citing the impossibility for the Israeli Army to guarantee the security of the politicians.

The Israeli Army has occupied most of the West Bank for nearly a year, and barred access to any Israeli without special authorisation.

The Labour officials who planned to see Abbas included party secretary general Ofer Pines and former deputy defence minister Ephraim Sneh. Abbas is to go to Jerusalem tomorrow for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, another Israeli official said today.

Bureau Report