Israeli troops, gunmen clash in Ramallah

RAMALLAH, West Bank, May 24 (Reuters) Israeli troops on an arrest raid in central Ramallah today exchanged fire with Palestinian gunmen and two Palestinians were killed in the clash, hospital sources and witnesses said.

At least 10 other Palestinians were wounded in the city's main shopping area, some by live gunfire and others by rubber bullets, the director of Ramallah's hospital said.

Israel Radio said the Israeli troops arrested an Islamic Jihad militant.

Israeli soldiers often carry out arrest raids into Ramallah, the Palestinian seat of government, but they rarely turn into major confrontations. The last major daytime raid was more than a year ago.

An Israeli military source said the troops were trying to make arrests when they were confronted by stone-throwing Palestinians and gunmen.

Reuters SHR DB1837