Sharon gives army free hand

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel of undermining his efforts to calm the violence but vowed in remarks to reporters to do "all we can" to prevent further rocketing.

The worst surge in bloodshed since a truce was agreed in February has threatened to hamper Israel's withdrawal from Jewish settlements in occupied Gaza, starting next month, and amplified doubts over prospects for peacemaking.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said he had instructed the army "to act without limitation to stop the strikes on Israeli communities" after rocket and mortar salvoes.

But Sharon later hinted Israel would not be quick to launch a major incursion into Gaza, telling his cabinet he would "weigh our response" to further truce violations.

Israeli political sources said a new Israeli offensive into the occupied territory was unlikely before Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visits later this week to try to salvage the crumbling ceasefire.

Six more Israelis were injured in rocket and mortar barrages on Sunday.

In the southern Gaza Strip, Israel killed Saeed Seyam, a commander of Hamas, a group bent on Israel's destruction and behind much of the rocket fire, with a shot from a settlement. The army called it part of a revived assassination policy.

Israel said its soldiers also killed a gunman nearing a settlement in central Gaza.

In northern Gaza, an Israeli aircraft fired missiles at a car carrying three Hamas militants leaving a site in Beit Lahiya used to fire rockets at Jewish settlements, witnesses said. The militants jumped out but one was wounded by shrapnel.

Abbas reiterated a pledge to help curb the violence, telling reporters in Gaza: "We will do all we can to prevent these rockets ... we are determined to prevent these rockets, regardless of the price."

But he lashed out at Israel for its assaults and for threatening a new military offensive, and said he had sought American intervention to prevent it.