Two Palestinians die in West Bank

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli helicopter gunships attacked a car killing two Palestinians the Israelis said were Hamas militants on their way to carry out a suicide attack in Israel.

The attack, near the West Bank city of Tulkarem, came on the day British Prime Minister Tony Blair arrived for talks aimed at curbing Mideast violence.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office identified the two men who died as Yasser Atsida and Fahmi Abu Aisha, both members of the Hamas military wing.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society confirmed the deaths, and said a body found inside the car was too badly burned to easily identify.

Israeli radio reported the helicopters struck at the car traveling between Anabta and Tulkarem, and that a third man was wounded and arrested by Israeli security forces.

Israeli troops killed six Palestinian militants in the West Bank on Wednesday, including a senior member of Hamas.

CNN's Jerusalem Bureau Chief Mike Hanna said Palestinians accused Israel of mounting "a brutal campaign of assassination."

Blair was holding talks with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres before meeting Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Later he was due to head to Gaza to meet Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.