U.S. special envoy Anthony Zinni reports having positive talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders as he tries to arrange a ceasefire to stop the violence.
 
 

 In Washington, the U.S. State Department said Israel has made a positive step by withdrawing its forces from Ramallah and other Palestinian towns. Spokesman Richard Boucher said Washington continues to expect a complete Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian Authority areas, to facilitate General Zinni's mission.

 President Bush, visiting North Carolina, also welcomed the Israeli pull-back and said he is hopeful that General Zinni's mission will yield a ceasefire.

 Israel pulled its tanks from Ramallah, Qalkilya and Tulkarm early Friday, but its forces still encircle those areas and other places invaded this week. Ramallah residents ventured out of their homes to assess the destruction caused by the three-day incursion. Palestinian officials have been saying they will not enter cease-fire talks until Israeli forces leave all Palestinian cities and villages.

 At least four Palestinians died Friday in clashes with Israeli soldiers. In the latest incident, a Palestinian man was killed during a nighttime gunbattle in the divided West Bank town of Hebron. Earlier, Israeli forces shot and killed three Palestinians in separate incidents in the Gaza Strip. 

Also, an explosion near the Bureij refugee camp killed a Palestinian woman and four children riding in a donkey cart. Palestinians blamed a landmine planted by Israeli forces. The Israeli army denied any link to the blast. 

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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