The United States on Wednesday urged all parties in the Middle East to remain "calm and restraint " after Israel's seizure of jailed militants from the Jericho prison sparked unrest across the Palestinian territories.

"We are continuing to stay in contact with the parties in the region. We continue to urge calm and restraint," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said one day after Israel's controversial raid on a Jericho prison in the West Bank.

U.S. President George W. Bush "is strongly committed to the two- state vision that he outlined, of Palestine and Israel living side- by-side in peace and security. And we want to continue working with all those who are partners in peace to get there," McClellan said.

Speaking to reporters, the spokesman also reiterated U.S. call for the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which is to form the Palestinian government after its victory in January's parliamentary election, to renounce violence, recognize Israel, and disarm.

"They have an opportunity to try to be a partner in peace," McClellan said. "The president is looking for partners in peace that want to work toward the two-state vision."

Israeli forces seized six Palestinian prisoners in Jericho Tuesday after a 10-hour assault that reduced to rubble much of the Palestinian jail compound where they were held.

The operation triggered a furious response by Palestinians across the West Bank and Gaza Strip, much of it directed at foreign citizens and institutions.

It was reported that Palestinian gunmen kidnapped about nine foreigners in the Gaza Strip and attacked British Council offices there in the West Bank city of Ramallah hours after the operation in Jericho began.

Source: Xinhua