20 January 2004	Tuesday	27 Ziqa'ad 1424

KIRYAT SHMONA, Jan 19: An Israeli soldier was killed and another seriously wounded when their bulldozer was destroyed in an anti-tank rocket attack along the Lebanese border on Monday, military sources said.

The sources, who earlier gave a casualty toll of two injured, said the incident took place on the Israeli side of the border as the soldiers hunted for roadside bombs.

Hezbollah insisted the bulldozer had crossed into Lebanese territory near the Mediterranean coast, in the latest of a series of Israeli violations of the frontier.

"It is not the first time that the enemy has been behind such violations in more than one border area," Hezbollah said, announcing its fighters destroyed the vehicle with a direct hit.

Israeli radio said the bulldozer crossed a few metres into Israeli territory when it came under attack. The commander of Israel's northern region, which includes the border area, General Benny Gantz, said the Lebanese government and Syria, which backs Hezbollah, were "allowing Hezbollah to act at the border". "Those who are on the northern side of the border would do well to be worried," he told journalists.-AFP