A Palestinian policeman was killed and four others wounded on Tuesday by Israeli forces who surrounded and stormed into a prison in the West Bank town of Jericho, Palestinian security sources and witnesses said.

The sources said that Israeli troops, backed by dozens of army jeeps, tanks and two helicopters, raided Jericho on early Tuesday and broke into the Jericho prison compound.

One Palestinian policeman was killed and four others wounded by Israeli gunfire in an exchange of fire between prison guards and Israeli troops, said witnesses.

The Israeli troops have demanded the surrender of Ahmed Saadat, leader of the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), who has been jailed in the Jericho prison for connection with the assassination of an Israeli minister, and several other militants.

Witnesses said that the Israeli soldiers had detonated explosives at the entrance gates of the prison and were using bulldozers to bring down prison walls.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister-designated Ismail Haneya warned Israel against hurting Saadat and other militants in the Jericho prison, calling on the international community to interfere and stop the Israeli operation.

The Jericho jail has been under supervision of the U.S. and British guards, but witnesses said that they withdrew from the prison before the Israeli raid.

The incident came one week after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that he was ready to release Saadat on condition that the PFLP could guarantee his safety.

The PFLP later pledged to protect Saadat if he was set free, but Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz warned that Israel would either arrest or kill Saadat in that case.

Israel has accused Saadat of being involved in the killing of tourism minister Rehavam Zeevi in 2001 and the Palestinian militant has been jailed since August 2002.