NABLUS, Feb 7: Israel launched a second retaliatory air strike on a Palestinian Authority (PA) compound in the West Bank city of Nablus on Thursday night, wounding at least one person.

The missile strike carried out by an Israeli helicopter gunship was in further retaliation for the killing of three Israelis on Wednesday night by a Palestinian gunman who infiltrated a Jewish settlement in the West Bank, the army said.

Israeli warplanes hit the same compound in Nablus before dawn on Thursday, wounding 11 people, in retaliation for the killing by at least one Palestinian gunman of three Israelis at a Jewish settlement in the West Bank late on Wednesday.

The second strike after dark destroyed an intelligence service building which had been evacuated before the attack, Palestinian security sources said. Witnesses said at least one person was wounded.

The attacks took place while Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was in Washington preparing to press US President George W. Bush to sever ties with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. But the Palestinian leader said he was ready to negotiate peace with Israel under US auspices.—Reuters