Car bomb blast near the Palestinian security officials

A car bomb has exploded near the convoy of a Palestinian security chief, Moussa Arafat, in what security sources say was an apparent assassination attempt.

The blast happened as the convoy was leaving a Palestinian security headquarters building.

Security officials and witnesses said Mr Arafat, a controversial relative of the &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/2002/01/16/25682.html ' target=_blank>Palestinian leader, was uninjured, reports BBC News.

Medics said so far nobody had been brought to hospital for medical treatment.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the car bomb which some Palestinians suspected may have been carried out by Palestinian factions opposed to Moussa Arafat's appointment.

Israeli military sources denied any connection to the blast. "The &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/hotspots/2001/09/01/13978.html ' target=_blank>explosion in Gaza is not related to Israeli military activity," a military source said.