Observers tour checkpoints ahead of Palestinian vote

International observers toured army roadblocks in the West Bank and Gaza Strip today and Palestinian officials complained Israel was not fully complying with promises to ease travel restrictions ahead of presidential elections to replace the late Yasser Arafat.

At one Gaza checkpoint, hundreds of cars were waiting early today. Palestinians reported that a 60-year-old taxi passenger was killed by army fire at the barrier. The army said soldiers fired at a gunman approaching on foot.