Palestinian gunman killed in West Bank

Israeli troops have shot dead a gunman in the West Bank town of Janin. According to Palestinian security officials, the man was a commander from a militant group of Fatah and Islamic Jihad gunmen.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says his country’s offensive in the Gaza strip has led to a drop in rocket attacks against Israel.

Minutes after his remarks were broadcast on Israeli Radio, the armed wing of Hamas fired eight mortar bombs from Gaza, wounding four soldiers.