Israeli army kills Palestinian in W Bank clash

NABLUS, West Bank, Aug 26 (Reuters) Israeli soldiers shot and killed one Palestinian and wounded five others in a clash in the occupied West Bank today, Palestinian medics said.

Witnesses said soldiers fired on Palestinians throwing stones at them in the city of Nablus, killing a 16-year-old boy and wounding five others, one seriously.

An army spokeswoman said some of the Palestinians were armed and had thrown at least two explosive devices at troops. One of the armed Palestinians had been shot in the lower part of his body during an exchange of fire, she added.

Witnesses said the protesters threw stones after the army surrounded a building where two wanted militants were believed to be holed up.

The Israeli army encircled the building in the early morning and called on the occupants to evacuate. An Israeli bulldozer destroyed part of the three-storey building.

Israeli troops also detained four Palestinians in the Gaza Strip near the southern town of Rafah, residents said, adding those taken away had not been involved in militancy.

An army spokeswoman said two militants from the governing Hamas movement had been detained.

Residents said two Palestinians had been wounded by gunfire in that operation.

The raid was part of a two-month Israeli offensive in Gaza that began after Palestinian militants including Hamas gunmen captured an Israeli soldier in a cross-border attack.

Israel withdrew from Gaza last year after 38 years of occupation.

Reuters DKA RS1719