Witnesses say leading Palestinian militants killed in attack

JERUSALEM -- Israeli aircraft firing a missile struck a building in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank late Tuesday, killing two local leaders of Palestinian militant groups, witnesses and doctors said.

They were identified as Alah Sabbagh, of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades militia, affiliated with Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, and Imad Nasrti, leader of the Islamic group Hamas in the area. They were in the same room on the first floor of the building when a missile came through the window and exploded, rescue workers said.

The Israeli military had no immediate comment. A few hours earlier, Israeli forces had moved into Jenin, at the northern edge of the West Bank.

Israel claims the right to target and kill Palestinians suspected of planning attacks. Palestinians and human rights groups object to the practice, calling it summary execution with no judicial process and an attempt to wipe out Palestinian leaders.

In political developments, Palestinian officials acknowledged Tuesday that it was increasingly unlikely general elections will be held as scheduled on Jan. 20, as Israel's governing Likud Party prepared for a leadership primary to be held this week ahead of a national election also set for January.

Both developments could influence international peace efforts.

In Israel, hardline political parties that have opposed concessions to the Palestinians are leading in the polls, while the plan to hold Palestinian elections was a vital part of reforms in Arafat's administration, which Israel and the U.S. government believe are a condition for progress toward peace.

Palestinian officials are hesitating to announce a postponement of the January election for president and parliament, but the Election Commission has not managed to meet even once to begin organizational work.

Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat said he was "not hopeful" the elections would be held as scheduled and blamed Israel, whose troops have been in control of most West Bank cities since mid-June, when Israel responded to Palestinian suicide bombings with a large-scale West Bank invasion.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his challenger, Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, tried to drum up last-minute support at rallies and meetings. Sharon holds a double-digit lead in polls of Likud Party members ahead of Thursday's vote.