Israeli troops seize two from W.Bank police post

RAMALLAH, West Bank, July 4 (Reuters) Israeli forces entered a police station in the West Bank city of Ramallah today, seizing two Palestinians suspected of involvement in killing a Jewish settler last week, residents said.

The two men had been detained by Palestinian police on suspicion of killing 18-year-old Eliyahu Asheri. His body was found on June 29.

The army had earlier said it was surrounding the building to get hold of the men.

The Popular Resistance Committees, which claimed responsibility for killing Asheri after first saying it was holding him hostage, said that the men detained in Ramallah had nothing to do with the death.

Israeli-Palestinian relations have sunk to new depths over the abduction of a soldier by militants from Gaza. The captors have set a 6 a.m. (0300 GMT) deadline for Israel to free hundreds of prisoners in exchange.

Israel has said it will not negotiate for the soldier's release.

Reuters DH VP0635