Palestinian wounded as Israeli forces fire at wall protesters

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

BILIN, West Bank (AFP) — A Palestinian suffered a severe gunshot wound on Friday when troops dispersed a protest against the Israeli separation barrier in the occupied West Bank, medics and witnesses said.

The 25-year-old man, who was among a dozen protesters at the weekly demonstration in Bilin, was taken to hospital in nearby Ramallah.

Medics said he was bleeding profusely after being hit in the thigh by a live round.

Using rubber bullets, troops wounded another seven people, Palestinian emergency services said.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said the protest turned violent and that demonstrators hurled stones.

"One protester damaged the security fence. Soldiers fired at him and identified hitting him," she said.

Bilin, the site of...