Israeli troops exchange fire with Hebron Palestinians

Israeli troops backed by tanks and jeeps surrounded a house in Hebron early today, exchanging fire with at least one gunman inside and demolishing the building without pulling anyone out, Palestinian witnesses and military officials said.

It was unclear if there was anyone inside as bulldozers began demolishing the house that belongs to Akram Shahin, an Islamic studies teacher whose son, Karim, is a Hamas activist sentenced to six years in an Israeli prison.