Jerusalem rocked by car bombs

Sixteen people were reported injured in the latest attack

JERUSALEM -- Central Jerusalem has been hit by a huge car bomb -- the second such attack in nine hours.

Sixteen people were being treated for shock and injuries from the flying glass.

Police said the car had been packed with a variety of explosives including mortar shells and nails, CNN's Ben Wedeman reports.

A report on Hezbollah TV said responsibility for the latest blast, and for a nearby one at around midnight, had been claimed by militant Islamic groups.

Wedeman said eyewitnesses to the latest attack reported several smaller blasts following a large explosion, which happened at around 9 a.m. (0600 GMT) Sunday morning.

Police sappers are still working to defuse mortar shells found at the scene, and the main thoroughfare is expected to be closed for several hours.

The street, which would normally have been crowded at the time of the explosion, was relatively empty on the eve of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, with many people away on vacation.

AUDIO CNN's Ben Wedeman: Israel's policy of restraint can't go on for long if bombings continue 354K/33 sec. AIFF or WAV sound CNN's Sheila MacVicar: Palestinian officials see the ceasefire as a trick 382K/35 sec. AIFF or WAV sound    VIDEO A car bomb ripped through a crowded area in central Jerusalem early Saturday night (May 26) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) A car bomb exploded friday evening in a Palestinian refugee camp near Nablus killing one and injuring three (May 26) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     ALSO Muslim states take stand against Israel U.S. envoy to meet with Arafat on Mideast violence

CNN's Sheila MacVicar said the latest blasts displayed a change in tactics by Palestinian militants. She said the devices had been packed with mortars and nails in an apparent attempt to maximise casualties.

There were no reports of injuries following the midnight explosion in the Russian Compound nightclub district, but police said at least three people were taken to hospital to be treated for shock.

Actions such as the car bombings have previously been followed by Israeli military attacks on Palestinian targets, but earlier this week Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon implemented what he called a unilateral cease-fire. Palestinians have dismissed the initiative as a propaganda ploy.

Wedeman said the attacks showed that the United States' new envoy to the region, William Burns -- who is due to meet Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Sharon Sunday -- has "a huge task ahead of him."

U.S. President George W. Bush appointed Burns amid eight months of clashes in a Palestinian uprising that has so far claimed over 500 lives -- the vast majority Palestinian.

Peace efforts are currently centring on implementing recommendations of an international commission led by former U.S. senator George Mitchell, which published its report into the violence Monday. It called for an immediate ceasefire, Palestinian steps to rein in militants and a freeze on Jewish settlements.

But the violence continued throughout the week.

Two Palestinian suicide bombers blew themselves up Friday, injuring more than 60 people in the central Israeli town of Hadera. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for that explosion, saying the blast was to mark the anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon

A few hours earlier, a Palestinian truck driver died in an attack on an Israeli army post in Gaza. Hamas claimed responsibility for that bomb.

After nightfall, an activist with an armed group within Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction was killed and several others seriously wounded when their car exploded in the West Bank town of Nablus.

The Palestinian Authority accused Israel of carrying out an "assassination." The Israeli army said it played no role in the car explosion.