Palestinians welcome new Israeli opposition leader

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Senior Palestinian officials on Wednesday welcomed a call by Israel's new opposition leader Amram Mitzna to restart peace talks but held back outright endorsement -- apparently fearing it would hurt the ex-general's chances in January elections.

Many Palestinians are eager for the removal of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who -- during 20 months in office -- has ravaged the Palestinian security forces, waged an intense crackdown against militant groups and sent troops to reoccupy and impose curfews on most Palestinian cities in the West Bank.

Palestinian Parliament speaker Ahmed Qureia said Mitzna's easy victory in the Labor Party primary Tuesday "renews the hope of reviving the peace process . . . ending the violence and reaching a final solution based on two states living side by side in peace and security."

Palestinian Cabinet minister and chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said he hoped "the Israeli people elect a leadership that will take them on a path of peace, not a leadership that will lead them to more settlements and reoccupation."

But Sharon's Likud Party is the heavy favorite in the Jan. 28 general election.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat struck the most cautious note. "We are not interfering in (Israel's) internal affairs," Arafat said. "Our hands will be extended" to any Israeli leader prepared to negotiate.

10 killed in bus blast

JERUSALEM -- A suicide bomber blew himself up on a crowded Jerusalem city bus during morning rush hour today, killing himself and 10 passengers and wounding dozens, police said. Many schoolchildren were on the bus, officials said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, the first in Jerusalem since August.

The bomber set off the explosives in Jerusalem's Kiryat Menachem neighborhood about 7:15 a.m.

Several bodies still lay near the bus after at least 38 wounded were taken to hospitals.

Seven of the wounded were in serious condition.

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