Israel acts to prevent assassinations

Israel has tightened security around ministers amid fears that extreme right-wing Jewish groups may attempt an assassination to undermine the fledgling "road-map" for peace in the Middle East.

The measures come days after the Israeli cabinet endorsed the U.S.-backed plan. They include a military withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza strip and a dismantling of some colonies there - steps that are anathema to Israel's far right.

Shin Bet, Israel's internal security service, is tracking Jewish extremists it considers a threat to Ariel Sharon, the prime minister, and government ministers who backed him in the cabinet vote to endorse the "roadmap" last Sunday.

One intelligence source on Wednesday said the security services were worried that "attacks may be carried out by Jews on government figures". Since Sunday extra bodyguards had been drafted in to protect cabinet ministers around the clock. Previously "not all of them had bodyguards all the time", he said.

The warning comes eight years after Yitzhak Rabin, then Israel's prime minister, was shot dead at a peace rally by a Jewish student with links to an extremist group.

"No one is taking any chances now," said the intelligence source.

Sharon is also being advised to cancel some personal appearances. On Wednesday security measures were being tightened around ministers "whether they liked it or not", said the source.