41.   Government tanks, artillery and mortars were destroyed, the statement added.

42.   Hamad, a regional leader of the militant Islamic group Hamas, was also responsible for other deadly attacks in Israel, the statement added.

43.   He was wounded in the shootout and died in surgery, the statement added.

44.   His recent public statements have only added to the bewilderment.

45.   He was asked to wait at the police station and fell asleep in an armchair while waiting for a reply to his request from Holland, the statement added.

46.   His daughter, who was standing behind him, was slightly hurt and shocked by the blast, the statement added.

47.   His statement added the merger would establish a more competitive bank with larger assets, a stronger capital base and improved liquidity.

48.   In another attack Wednesday morning near Erbil, Iraqi troops and tanks attacked two villages and detained nine people, the statement added.

49.   Israeli soldiers also detained eight people in Rafah suspected of weapons smuggling, the army statement added.

50.   It did not take part in negotiations and is committed to nothing by the agreement, the statement added.