Israeli troops kill militant in West Bank raid

RAMALLAH, West Bank, May 29 (Reuters) Israeli troops killed a Palestinian militant and wounded four people during a raid in the West Bank city of Ramallah today, hospital officials and local residents said.

The dead man was named as Omar Abdel-Halim, a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an offshoot of President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction. The 24-year-old, also a member of a security force loyal to Abbas, had long been sought by Israel.

The Israeli army had no immediate comment on the operation, which witnesses said had been carried out by an Israeli undercover unit.

A restaurant owner said he saw the undercover troops shoot the man in the leg before killing him. Television footage showed what appeared to be bullet wounds in the leg and head.

Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa al-Barghouthi said the man was killed in ''cold blood''.

Yesterday, Israeli troops detained a top militant from al-Aqsa whom the army said was involved in deadly attacks against Israelis.

REUTERS RJ KP2309