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Israeli troops hunt militants in West Bank

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published March 1, 2007

NABLUS, West Bank - Israel on Wednesday clamped down on this West Bank city for the second time in a week, confining tens of thousands of people to their homes as troops moved house to house in search of wanted militants.

The army has been operating in Nablus, the West Bank's commercial center, since the weekend. Forces briefly withdrew Tuesday, but at dawn, dozens of jeeps backed by bulldozers moved back in.

In nearby Jenin, Israeli undercover troops in a black car shot and killed three militants in a parking lot, including the chief spokesman for the Islamic Jihad group, Palestinian officials said. The army confirmed its troops killed the men, saying they had helped to plan an attempted suicide bombing in Tel Aviv that was thwarted last week.

Two of the militants were killed instantly, and the third, Ashraf Saadi, was shot and killed as he tried to escape, witnesses said. Saadi was the spokesman for Islamic Jihad, a militant group backed by Iran and Syria, and responsible for dozens of suicide bombings and rocket attacks against Israel.

In the Gaza Strip, Islamic Jihad spokesman Abu Ahmad vowed retaliation. Hamas also swore revenge.

On Wednesday, Israeli forces blocked all entrances to Nablus' crowded Old City as they pursued wanted men.

Residents said more than 100 jeeps patrolled city streets, enforcing a curfew that confined about 50,000 Old City residents to their homes.

As troops moved house to house, the army broadcast messages on Palestinian TV and radio stations urging wanted men to surrender.

The army said it has arrested five people and uncovered three explosives labs. One Palestinian civilian has been killed since the Nablus operation began.

The wanted militants remained in hiding, but Palestinian officials said 10 people were wounded as troops clashed with youths throwing stones. Fifty people were detained, although many were released, the officials said, and troops surrounded hospitals to check people going in and out.

[Last modified March 1, 2007, 01:24:22]