News In Brief

Palestinian bomb explodes on bus in Israeli port city

A bomb ripped through a bus in Ashdod Wednesday, killing three Israelis and wounding eight others. Police set up roadblocks outside this Mediterranean port and detained 150 Arabs for questioning about the blast - the worst bombing in Israel since December.

In Damascus, the Abu Nidal Palestinian guerrilla group claimed responsibility for the blast.

Meanwhile, police sources in Jerusalem said four American immigrants, followers of Rabbi Meir Kahane, the right-wing leader, had admitted shooting at an Arab bus in the occupied West Bank. They also said three Israelis are being held for trying to blow up Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam's holiest shrines. All seven were arrested Tuesday and police said more arrests were expected.