Israeli army kills Palestinian militant in Gaza

Gaza, Mar 27: A Palestinian militant firing grenades into Israel from the northern Gaza Strip was killed by the Israeli army today, an army spokesman and the Islamic Jihad militant group said.

Palestinian sources said another militant was wounded by Israeli fire at a field frequently used by militants to shoot rockets at Israel.

Islamic Jihad said the militants were firing rocket-propelled grenades into Israel when the army opened fire on them.

An Israeli army spokesman said Israel had ''specific inside information'' that the militants intended to carry out an attack on Israeli targets.

''We fired at them, including from the air, and we saw that they were hit,'' the army spokesman said.

Residents reported hearing an explosion and gunfire. The army spokesman said the gunmen returned fire but hurt no one.

Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip last year after a 38-year occupation. Its soldiers and Palestinian militants regularly clash along the Gaza-Israel border.

Israeli security forces are on high alert ahead of a general election tomorrow.

REUTERS