AREHA, West Bank, March 14, 2006 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Israeli occupation forces on Tuesday, March 14, detained the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) after storming a US-British guarded prison compound in the West Bank town of Areha (Jericho) where he was held, as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held the US and Britain responsible for the escalation.

The Israeli army confirmed that Ahmed Saadat walked out of the prison compound with his hands in the air towards Israeli troops after an hours-long stand off, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Saadat had earlier vowed not to surrender.

"We have no other option but to resist," he told the Doha-based Al-Jazeera channel over the phone from his prison cell.

"We will not surrender and will face our destiny in bravery."

Israeli soldiers have swarmed into the prison compound to detain Saadat and five other PFLP members.

Soldiers blew up the outer wall of the prison compound, then brought up bulldozers.

Palestinian officials said two security officers were killed in the Israeli raid while nearly 100 Palestinian security personnel were detained by the Israeli forces.

Israel said the move came after reports that Saadat and the others could be released.

Last week, Abbas said he was prepared to free Saadat, jailed under US and British supervision since August 2002 after the PFLP claimed the 2001 killing of far-right Israeli tourism minister Rehavam Zeevi to avenge the assassination of Saadat's predecessor.

"We hold responsible the American and British guardians who took responsibility to guard the prisoners," Abbas said.

President Abbas held both the United States and Britain responsible for the Israeli aggression.

"We hold responsible the American and British guardians who took responsibility to guard the prisoners," he said in a statement.

The United States and Britain withdrew their monitors from the prison just before the Israeli attack on claims of security concerns.

"We hold them fully responsible for any threats against Ahmed Saadat and Fuad Shubaki (a Fatah official) and their colleagues," the statement added.

Ahmed Abdel Rahman, an aide to Abbas, dismissed the American-British move as "a violation of the agreement with the Palestinian Authority."

Saadat is normally guarded by British and US prison guards, in addition to Palestinian jailers.

Palestinian Prime Minister-designate Ismail Haniya also condemned the Israeli raid.

"This is a dangerous escalation. We warn against continuing such destructive actions, particularly attempts on the lives of Saadat and his brothers," Haniya said in Gaza City.

Hamas accused acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government of "trying to use Palestinian blood to win the Israeli election" on March 28.