Palestinian journalists have laid a coffin outside the headquarters of the Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza to protest at what they say are attempts to stifle their reporting.

Palestinian police last week beat several journalists and briefly detained eight of them after they reported on a demonstration in Gaza against the American and British attacks on Iraq.

Police also closed the office of the American news agency, Associated Press, for twenty-four hours.

Correspondents say the protests against the raids in Iraq have embarrassed the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, who has sought American support in his dispute with Israel over implementation of their latest peace agreement.