Palestinians shot dead by Israeli troops

Troops shot dead two Palestinians in the West Bank who tried to stab a soldier today.

A third died of a gunshot wound in a separate incident.

The military said that a soldier was on a routine patrol near a security crossing south-east of Nablus when the Palestinians approached and attempted to stab him. Soldiers opened fire and both of the Palestinians were killed.

A West Bank medical official said earlier that a Palestinian youth died of a gunshot wound to the head from a demonstration yesterday near the West Bank village of Iraq Burin, also near Nablus. Israelis said no live ammunition was used.