15 Mar 2010

Israel claims Hamas leader arrested

4:02 pm on 15 March 2010

Israel's army says a leading member of the Palestinian militant group Hamas has been arrested in the West Bank.

It says Mahar Uda, 47, was seized on Sunday in the Ramallah region. He is said to be one of the founders of Hamas' armed wing in the West Bank.

Hamas says Palestinian security forces helped Israel arrest Mr Uda.

Israeli forces have been hunting for him for more than 10 years in connection with a series of deadly attacks in Israel.

Militants under Mahar Uda's command also allegedly gathered ammunition for Hamas attacks against Israel and kidnapped Palestinians suspected of co-operating with Israel.