Police evacuate Jewish squatters from Hebron

Israeli police, using sledge hammers, chain saws and power clippers, stormed a building in the West Bank town of Hebron early today and dragged out hundreds of settlers who had holed up there illegally, hoping to expand the Jewish presence in the volatile biblical city.

Settlers hurled stones, water, oil and concrete powder as police, backed by army troops, broke through fortified doors and carried out the squatters one by one.