15 January 2005	Saturday	04 Zilhaj 1425

JERUSALEM, Jan 14: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Friday ordered all government officials to cut ties with the new Palestinian government until it curbs attacks, a day after militants killed six Israelis on the Gaza border.

"The prime minister has instructed all members of the government to cease all contact with the Palestinian Authority until they take the neccesary steps to curb and stop terrorism," a senior Israeli official in Mr Sharon's office said.

Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas spoke by phone this week in the highest level Israeli-Palestinian contact in years. They had been widely expected to meet soon to discuss security coordination in a run-up to Israel's planned pullout from the Gaza Strip later this year.

Mr Abbas, due to be sworn in as president on Saturday, condemned the attack on Israel's border cargo terminal in Gaza and deadly raids Israel has mounted against militants. Israel has regarded Mr Abbas as a man it could do business with. -Reuters