In pictures: 'Catastrophe Day' protests

Anger flares once more in the Middle East as thousands of Palestinians take to the streets to protest on Nakba - or "Day of Catastrophe" - the anniversary of the creation of Israel in 1948.

Children join Palestinian militants at a protests in Lebanon's main refugee camp

In Israel and the occupied territories, Israeli troops were put on high alert

Thousands of Palestinians turned out to mark the national day of mourning

Protesting Palestinians brandish an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon

Palestinian flags fly on the rooftops in Gaza City

The demonstrations soon turned to violence

Masked Palestinian gunmen joined in the marches

Protesters carried banners and shouted slogans denouncing Israel

A three-minute silence was held in East Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories