Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops

Nablus: Hundreds of Palestinian protesters clashed with Israeli troops at a checkpoint near Nablus on Sunday.

The protesters scuffled with troops at the Hawara checkpoint. Soldiers fought back with tear gas and stun grenades and detained two people.

There were no serious injuries reported in the protest on Land Day, a date mainly observed by Arabs in Israel to protest land seizures and discrimination.

The Israeli army said it used only non-lethal measures to disperse the crowd. It also said that anyone who was detained has been released.

The incident came as US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders in Occupied Jerusalem to push for peace negotiations.