Jerusalem: As part of the implementation of the West Asia peace "road map", Israeli troops on July 2 pulled out of Bethlehem and Palestinian security forces took charge of the West Bank town, three days after the Palestinians assumed control of Gaza Strip.

Immediately after the troops pulled out at around 4.00 pm (6.30 IST), Palestinian police officers took to the streets of the city and bells rang from Bethlehem's churches as hundreds of local residents and shopkeepers applauded.

The security handover followed talks between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas on July 1, during which both sides agreed to take forward the US-brokered international peace plan.

Details of the transfer of power were finalised during a meeting between senior security officials from both sides later.

"Responsibility for security matters has been transferred," an Army spokesman said soon after the ceremonial Palestinian flag-raising ceremony.

Israeli radio reported that troops began pulling out of Bethlehem in the daytime in anticipation. However, they maintain positions around the city.

Israeli media quoted a senior Israel Defence official as saying that the end of the suicide attacks could be near as Palestinian Prime Minister was serious about ending the terror.

In a joint appearance on July 1, Sharon and Abbas shared an enthusiastic handshake and said their people held no fundamental enmity towards each other.

PTI