31.   Also Thursday, a local Palestinian militia leader wanted by Israel was killed in an exchange of fire with Israeli troops, the Israeli military said.

32.   As Israeli tanks, attack helicopters and troops advanced against Palestinian militia, Fleischer said Israel needed time to digest what Bush expects of it.

33.   At his West Bank headquarters in Ramallah, Arafat condemned attacks on Israeli civilians and called on Palestinian militias to completely halt the shootings and bombings.

34.   Before the bus blast, a Palestinian militia leader said he expected violence to worsen without some speedy breakthrough.

35.   But Sharon pledged on Wednesday to maintain the offensive until Palestinian militias are destroyed.

36.   Earlier, Powell designated three Middle East groups as terrorist organizations, including the al-Aqsa Brigades, a Palestinian militia linked to the Fatah faction of Arafat.

37.   He also said that if the army kills any Palestinian militia leaders, the group would resume its attacks inside Israel.

38.   He said Arafat was being isolated to cut him off from Palestinian militias that have carried out a string of bombings and shootings.

39.   Hours after the executions, the four other men were convicted as accomplices in an Israeli rocket attack that killed a Palestinian militia commander.

40.   Hours after the executions, four other men were convicted as accomplices in an Israeli rocket attack that killed a Palestinian militia commander.