Bomber strikes in northern Israel

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

JERUSALEM -- A suicide bomber blew himself up on a bus in northern Israel during this morning's rush hour, killing at least three people, officials and Israel radio said.

No official casualty toll was immediately available. But rescue workers reported three dead and 28 injured, according to Israeli radio stations. The 7 a.m. blast occurred at an intersection on a main east-west highway near the large Israeli Arab town of Um el-Fahm.

"We're talking about suicide bomber that got on at nearby station and then blew himself up," police commander Yaakov Borovski said. "There are more than a few injuries, and they are heavy and apparently we have dead as well."

The blast comes as Israelis and Palestinians were trying to work out a cease-fire under the mediation of U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni. It was not clear how the bombing would effect the talks, though in the past such attacks have led to the collapse of negotiations.

A man who was traveling in a car behind the bus called it a "very grave attack and said he saw "a lot of blood."

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