In pictures: 'Catastrophe' protests

Palestinians have been marking the 60th anniversary of what they call the Nakba, or the "catastrophe", of the founding of Israel.

Some 700,000 Palestinians fled or were forced from their homes in the war that followed Israel's declaration of independence in 1948.

Several generations of Palestinians have grown up in refugee camps scattered throughout the Middle East and the Palestinian territories.

Some 4.5m Palestinian refugees now claim the right of return to lands they lost in Israel's founding in 1948.

Some of the Palestinian demonstrators have been carrying UN flags, referring to resolution 194 which they say grants them the right of return to their ancestral lands.

Many Palestinians accuse Israel of hurting the innocent and of collective punishment in its attempts to quash Palestinian militants, correspondents say.

These demonstrators in Damascus, Syria, wear robes with pictures of Palestinians allegedly killed by Israel. One of them reads: "One of their heroic deeds is the killing of Palestinians."

And as Palestinians mark their "catastrophe", Israel celebrates its 60th anniversary. Visiting Israel, US President George W Bush said there should be a democratic homeland for Palestinians.

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