Islamic Jihad denies claim it attacked n. Israel

BEIRUT, May 28 (Reuters) Islamic Jihad denied that it had claimed responsibility for a rocket barrage today that wounded an Israeli soldier in northern Israel.

Abu Imad Rifai, Islamic Jihad's representative in Lebanon, said the Palestinian militant group had not issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack, but reserved the group's right ''to retaliate to the crimes and aggression of the (Israeli) occupation''.

A statement purporting to be from Islamic Jihad had said the attack came in retaliation from Friday's killing of one of its leaders and his brother in south Lebanon.

Islamic Jihad leaders had blamed Israeli for the assassination and vowed retaliation.

Lebanon is under international pressure to disarm the Hizbollah guerrilla group and Palestinian groups operating on its territory.

REUTERS CH PM2246