Referring to the complex that is Arafat's powerbase in Ramallah, 20 kilometres north of Jerusalem, White House spokeswoman Jeanie Mamo said: "Israeli actions in and around the Moqata'a are not helpful in reducing terrorist violence or promoting Palestinian reforms."

Ten buildings and portable huts were blown up or torn down by Israeli forces who stormed the compound on Thursday after two Palestinian suicide bombings in Israel in successive days ended a six-week lull in such attacks.

Israeli forces cut off water, telephones and power to Yasser Arafat's devastated headquarters yesterday, tightening a siege that is intended to isolate him and get 20 wanted people, but has prompted widespread protests in his support.

Israeli troops shot dead four Palestinian protesters early yesterday in the West Bank.

The White House spokeswoman also strongly condemned the Palestinian suicide bombings and called on the Palestinians to stop such attacks while urging Israel to "continue considering the consequences of its actions."

Also yesterday Britain called for an end to the siege of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and said it was lodging a formal protest with Israel.

"I am deeply concerned by the continuing deployment of Israeli troops in Ramallah and have today instructed our ambassador to raise my concerns directly with the Israeli government," Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov urged Israel to end its destruction of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's headquarters, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Russia wanted "to give the Palestinian authorities a real chance to impose order on its territory (and), above all, stop raids by extremists and arrest those guilty of terrorist attacks," the statement added.

Receiving SOS calls from Arafat's besieged headquarters, Egypt is leading Arab states in urging the United States and other powers to halt Israeli attacks on the Palestinian leader.

(China Daily September 23, 2002)