Jerusalem: A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowded bus carrying many school children, killing at least 11 people and injuring over 45, during morning rush hour at a residential area in the Israeli capital on November 21, fading prospects of talks on a peace roadmap.

The attack came hours after Israeli Army's pre-dawn raid in the Palestinian town of Bethlehem, even as Israeli Public Security Minister Uzi Landau said the man who blew himself up "most likely came from Bethlehem".

The victims of today's bombing included a 13-year old girl. This is the first attack in the capital after the July 31 bombings in Hebrew University that killed seven people. The bus was travelling towards the centre of the city and was full when the blast occurred at Kiryat Menahem sector at 07:15 hrs local time (10:45 hrs IST), officials said.

"It was a bus travelling from Kiryat Menachem to the centre of the city. Apparently a suicide bomber got on the bus, we don't know when, and exploded himself," Jerusalem police chief Mickey Levy told Israel Radio. "As a result there are dozens of wounded and a few dead... The bus was full," he said.

Though no group has claimed the bombing so far, a leader of the Islamic militant group Hamas told al-Jazeera TV said "such operations" on Israelis would continue in order to force an end to Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon convened his security Cabinet for an emergency session later today (Nov 21) to discuss a response.

PTI