2 BOMBINGS KILL 13, HURT 50 IN ISRAEL.

Byline: Jack Katzenell Associated Press 

Bombs exploded today on a bus in Jerusalem and at a bus stop in a town 50 miles away, killing at least 13 people and wounding more than 50 others, the government said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Israeli officials said they had received reports that Muslim militants were planning attacks.

The first bomb exploded on a bus near Jerusalem's main bus station at morning rush hour, about 6:40 a.m. (8:40 p.m. Saturday PST). The blast ripped off the top of the red city bus and reduced the back to a twisted ball of charred metal.

Splattered oil and bits of clothing littered the street.

"I was shocked by the bang," said Anna Simchovich, a resident at a nearby apartment block. "All of the windows were blown in on top of me. I ran to the window and I saw the bus going up in flames."

Another bus and at least seven cars and vans were damaged.

Volunteers from an ultra-orthodox Jewish sect combed the scene for body parts for burial, working alongside investigators looking for clues about the bomb.

Military sources said several soldiers had been aboard the bus.

An official at the Hadassah-Ein Karem hospital said twelve injured were brought to the hospital and that a few were in serious condition.

An hour later, a bomb exploded at a bus stop in the southern town of Ashkelon, killing at least three people, Police Chief Assaf Hafetz said on Israel Television. At least 10 people were wounded, eight seriously, army radio reported.

After the blasts, Israel sealed its borders to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, barring the entry of Palestinians.

Israel canceled the planned visit of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to the West Bank towns of Nablus and Ramallah today, Palestinian sources said.

The explosions came only two days after Israel lifted an 11-day closure of the West Bank and Gaza Strip that had been imposed to prevent attacks by Muslim militants.