US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, said the United States opposed Israel?s demolition of Palestinian homes in a Gaza refugee camp and called for an end to the current cycle of violence.

?We know that Israel has a right for self-defence but the kind of action they are taking in Rafah with the destruction of Palestinian homes, we oppose,? he told in Jordan. ?We don?t think that is productive,? he said.

Israel?s Supreme Court lifted its temporary ban on the demolition of homes in Rafah where the army plans to widen the ?Philadelphi? buffer zone along the Egyptian border.

The army chief said hundreds more homes had been marked for demolition on the edge of the flashpoint corridor with the aim of giving soldiers more protection from attack by militants.

?Does this make them any more secure?,? Powell told reporters. ?We believe that the wholesale bulldozing of houses (...) is something that we must express our opposition to.?

Palestinian militants killed 13 Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip last week, dealing the army its heaviest casualties since 2002. At least 29 Palestinians, militants and civilians, were killed during fierce fighting.

?The United States is anxious to do everything it can to stop this cycle of strike and counter strike which has resulted in the loss of so many lives in the last week,? Powell said.

Powell, attending a World Economic Forum meeting on the Dead Sea coast, held talks with King Abdullah of Jordan and several Arab Foreign Ministers and Arab League officials. He tried to ease Arab anger over a prisoner abuse scandal in Iraq and US backing to the policies of Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon.

Powell also held talks with Palestinian Prime Minister, Ahmed Qurie, urging Palestinians to ?seize the opportunity? of an Israeli plan to quit Gaza.

He said Egypt had offered to assist the Palestinians to build their own security force for Gaza and that Britain was working to put in place ?control systems and command centres? to ?allow the Palestinians to exercise their security responsibilities more effectively?.

Powell rebuked Palestinian President Yasser Arafat for urging Palestinians to ?terrorise the enemy?, saying the Palestinian leader was making it ?exceptionally difficult? to move the peace process forward.

Israel and the United States have tried to isolate Arafat, accusing him of fomenting violence, an allegation he denies. Powell reiterated the need for an end of Palestinian suicide attacks and reform in the Palestinian community.

?We also need action on the part of the Israelis to stop the building of outposts, to destroy the outposts that were supposed to be destroyed as part of the roadmap process.?

US National Security Adviser, Condoleezza Rice, hold talks in Germany with Qurie yesterday. Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher, standing beside Powell, said he hoped the meeting ?will be a step toward moving the process forward.?

UN relief officials estimated that Israeli armoured bulldozers levelled more than 80 buildings in Rafah in recent days, leaving about 1,100 Palestinians homeless. The army said it demolished structures that provided cover for armed men.

?We are extremely alarmed that even more demolitions are planned,? said UNRWA chief Peter Hansen in a statement.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie accused the Israeli court ruling of permitting ?ethnic cleansing crimes and collective punishment of innocent civilians?.

<B>?We know that Israel has a right for self-defence but the kind of action they are taking in Rafah with the destruction of Palestinian homes, we oppose.?</B>

Arshad Mohammed