Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

    RAMALLAH, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Attorney General on Tuesday said he survived an assassination attempt when a small bomb went off in his car trunk in West Bank city of Ramallah.

    The attorney general Ahmed al-Mughani said he escaped unharmed after he heard the sound of a small explosion when he was starting up the engine at his house garage.

    "I found out that a bomb was attached in the trunk has exploded, pierced the petrol tank and caused damage to the car," al-Mughani said, adding that he doesn't accuse any one of plotting the attempt.

    The police started an investigation into the incident and al-Mughani said he would wait the findings.

    Eissa Abu Sharar, the chief of the higher council of judiciary, slammed the assassination attempt, saying "it seriously harms the judiciary and the prosecution system."

    Al-Mughani is loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah movement. He moved to the West Bank after Hamas took over Gaza Strip by force in June 2007.

    Hamas doesn't recognize al-Mughani's post as an attorney general and has appointed its own attorney general in Gaza.