Israeli troops wound 9 Palestinians in West Bank clash

Israeli troops shot and wounded nine stone-throwing Palestinians during a clash in the West Bank on Friday night, Palestinian security officials told AFP. They said that Palestinians from the Jelazoun refugee camp, near Ramallah, were stoning Israeli motorists near the neighbouring Beit El settlement and came under fire from soldiers sent to disperse them. They said that six of the injured were sent home after receiving first aid at a Palestinian hospital and three were kept in, although none of them was in life-threatening condition. All were hit in the legs. An army spokeswoman said that troops opened fire with 0.22 ammunition after tear gas and rubber bullets failed to disperse the crowd of about 50 people engaged in "a violent disturbance."