Arafat aide shot dead

Gunmen have shot dead a key aide to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in Gaza City, according to witnesses.

Khalil al-Zebin ran a Palestinian Authority-funded magazine and briefed Mr Arafat on human rights and press issues.

Mr Zebin was shot several times shortly after midnight on Tuesday and was declared dead soon after arriving at Gaza’s Shifa Hospital.

Tawfiq Abu Khoussa, deputy chairman of the Palestinian Journalists Union, condemned the killing and called on the Palestinian Authority to intervene immediately to find the assailants.