Israeli settlers killed in new violence

Three Israelis have been killed in two separate attacks by Palestinian gunmen on vehicles near the West Bank town of Ramallah.

Several other Israelis were wounded and an Israeli army bus is said to have been hit.

Earlier, two Palestinian teenagers were killed in the Gaza Strip when Israeli soldiers guarding a nearby Jewish settement opened fire on stone-throwing demonstrators.

Their deaths came as Palestinian officials held talks with the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, Mary Robinson, in the West Bank town of al-Bireh.

She went there to investigate complaints that Israeli troops have used excessive force against Palestinian protestors.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service