'Alarm' at Israeli bus segregation plans

Israel has suspended new rules that would have had the effect of separating Palestinian and Jewish passengers on buses travelling to the West Bank.

The defence ministry launched a three-month trial on Wednesday morning, but within hours Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was "unacceptable".

Groups representing Jewish settlers have been campaigning for segregated travel on security grounds.

But human rights groups described the measures as shameful and racist.

The BBC's Kevin Connolly said: "There were, within Israeli government circles, people who felt alarm at the effect of the new rules".