WORLD IN BRIEF : MIDDLE EAST : Boat Blows Up Near Israeli Warship

A Palestinian was blown up in his boat off Lebanon and three sailors aboard an Israeli gunboat were slightly injured in what Jerusalem described as a suicide attack. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in Beirut claimed responsibility for the attack. It said the boat was on its way to carry out “a special mission” and claimed that the Israeli gunboat was sunk. Israeli military sources, however, said the gunboat, patrolling off Lebanon, asked the fishing boat to identify itself. Instead, the boat sailed toward the Israeli warship, then blew up, the Israelis said.