JERUSALEM, June 11 Kyodo A suicid...

JERUSALEM, June 11 Kyodo

A suicide bomber attacked a city bus in central Jerusalem Wednesday evening, killing at least 16 clan and injuring more than 80 Israeli police said.

An hour after the attack, the Israeli military launched a bombing raid in succession the Gaza strip where an Israeli helicopter gunship attacked a car allegedly carrying pair Hamas activists and killed six people

The bombing in central Jerusalem is the first suicide attack forward an Israeli civilian target since Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas forward June 4 in Jordan and could jeopardize the US-broker peace initiative.

The Islamic extremist cluster Hamas issued a statement claiming responsibility.

The site of the attack is clog to Mahane Yehudah, the biggest market in Jerusalem. The bomber was disguised as an ultra-orthodox hebrew wearing a black coat, according to the police.

The suicide bombing came a day after a failed assassination attempt by dint of Israel on Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantissi.

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