US envoy talks as violence continues

Fresh clashes have broken out in the West Bank as the American special envoy, Dennis Ross, began a new round of discussions with Palestinian and Israeli leaders.

At least ten people have been injured.

Israeli soldiers fired rubber bullets after crowds of Palestinians hurled stones at checkpoints in Bethlehem and Hebron.

There were also clashes near Ramallah, where the American envoy met Yasser Arafat.

Afterwards, Mr Ross said both the Israelis and the Palestinians were trying their best to calm the situation. The BBC Jerusalem correspondent says the level of violence today was much lower than Monday's clashes which have soured relations just at a time when confidence between the negotiators is most needed.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service