Palestinian death toll mounts

The Israeli army says it has killed at least 200 Palestinians in its sweeping 10-day offensive in the West Bank.
Reports have spoken of dozens of dead bodies lying in the streets of Jenin refugee camp where the army met much stiffer resistance than expected from Palestinian fighters. Seven of its own soldiers have died there.

Israel's strongest backer, the United States, has called for an end to the incursions, which have turned about a dozen Palestinian towns and villages into war zones.

But Prime Minister Ariel Sharon resisted US pressure, saying only that the offensive - launched to combat the threat of Palestinian suicide bomb attacks - would be speeded up, not ended.