Two killed as Palestine police crackdown on anti-US protests

Two young Palestinians were killed today as police in Gaza City clamped down on anti-US protests.

The Palestinian Authority rushed to distance itself from accused terror mastermind Osama bin Laden and police fought a gun battle with protesting university students.

The Palestinian Information Minister said the Palestinian issue should not be used as an excuse for extremist political or religious positions.

In a video-taped speech released yesterday, bin Laden made a more explicit reference to the Palestine cause than in the past.