Cameraman freed by Israeli police

Protests have been taking place regularly in Bilin

The al-Jazeera Arabic news network says one of its cameramen has been beaten and briefly arrested by Israeli police.

Nabil Mazzawi was arrested by Israeli police during a protest against the barrier Israel is building in the West Bank and later freed.

Israeli police confirmed that he had been arrested, but said that he had assaulted a border policeman.

The Israeli Foreign Press Association has issued a strong protest over the Mr Mazzawi's treatment.

It has called for an investigation into what it said was his unwarranted detention.

He was later released without charge, Mr Mazzawi said, after showing police the footage he had taken of the protest.

Mr Mazzawi is an Arab citizen of Israel.

Protests against the building of the barrier are a weekly event in the West Bank village of Bilin.

Israel says its 600km (370 mile) barrier is needed to stop suicide attacks, but Palestinians see it as a land grab.