The area outside the Gaza City house of Hamas spiritual leader is said to be calm tonight, following clashes involving supporters and police. Police had fired tear gas at the crowd this afternoon, after they gathered to support leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.
Police have been trying to place Yassin under house arrest since last night, under the orders of Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat. One man was killed in the overnight clashes which ensued.
Tonight, there is only a handful of supporters remaining, but hundreds of police are stationed in the surrounding area. The order to enforce a house arrest was made following a spate of suicide bomb attacks and car bombs in Israel, blamed on the hardline Islamic group.
The attacks, during which 27 were killed, have put huge pressure on the Palestinian leadership, which has declared its first state of emergency and engaged in high levels talks to try and defuse this latest crisis.
Arafat met Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher and US envoy Anthony Zinni. Maher, who entered talks at the behest of Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, also met Israeli leaders.
Meanwhile, a Palestinian policeman was killed during an incursion by Israeli tanks into northern areas of the Gaza Strip today. Another policeman was in serious condition after being hit by heavy machinegun fire from the tanks in the legs and stomach.
