Israel kills Sheikh Ahmed Yassin

Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, spiritual leader of Hamas, was killed in an air strike in Gaza

Israeli helicopter gunships fired missiles at Hamas' spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin as he left a mosque before dawn today, killing the Hamas leader and at least two body guards, witnesses said.

A reporter who rushed to the scene after hearing three loud explosions found the blown-up remains of Yassin's blood-soaked wheel-chair.

Witnesses at the mosque said Yassin's body had been evacuated to an unknown location.

"The sheikh is dead. The sheikh is dead," sobbed gunmen and Hamas militants who gathered at the scene.

"This is a crazy and very dangerous act. It opens the door wide to chaos. Yassin is known for his moderation and he was controlling Hamas and therefore this is a dangerous, cowardly act," said Ahmed Qurie, the Palestinian prime minister.

Israel has said it would step up operations to track and kill Islamic militants after a string of suicide bombings, including one at a strategic port last week in which 10 people were killed. - Reuters