Fierce clashes in Gaza and West Bank

Demonstrators were out on the streets for a fourth day

At least 11 more people are reported to have been killed as fierce clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces continued into a fourth day.

All of this has drowned the political process with blood

Palestinian Minister Yasser Abd-Rabbuh,

The worst clashes were on the West Bank. Five people were reported killed in gun battles in Ramallah. Another three - including a seven-year-old boy - died in Nablus.

For the first time, bloodshed spilled over into Israel itself: one man was shot dead as Israeli Arabs demonstrated their support for the Palestinians near the town of Umm el-Fahm.

US President Clinton appealed to both the Israeli and Palestinian leaders over the weekend to bring an end to the violence.

A White House spokesman said on Sunday Mr Clinton had gained agreement from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to support a US-led inquiry into the violence once calm had been restored.

Casualties

During fighting in Nablus, an Israeli border guard was received wounds from which he later died.

Gun battles are an increasing part of the violence

In the Gaza Strip, where there has been a series of gun battles between the two sides, a 10-year-old Palestinian boy died from bullet wounds.

Many more people have been injured.

In a sign that the conflict was escalating, the Israeli army fired anti-tank missiles, threw grenades and shot from helicopters.

At least 36 people, including two Israeli soldiers, have now died in the violence of the past four days, which began after a right-wing Israeli politician visited a site in Jerusalem sacred to both Jews and Muslims.

A BBC correspondent in Jerusalem, Paul Adams, says the violence is reminiscent of the days of the Palestinian Intifada, but much more brutal.

The recent clashes are being described as the worst clashes between the two sides for four years.

Funerals

The firing took place near an Israeli military base that guards the Netzarim Jewish settlement in Gaza. Three Palestinians were killed near the base on Saturday.

Funerals sparked demonstrations and clashes

The violence in Gaza erupted after the funerals of two Palestinians who died in Saturday's clashes.

There have also been running street battles in Nablus, Hebron and other West Bank towns.

Israeli soldiers have been deployed in Jerusalem and the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, has called on the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, to intervene to stop the demonstrations.

Earlier, there were signs that the Palestinian authorities were trying to restrain Palestinian demonstrators.

Our correspondent says the Palestinian authorities may want to temper the violence, but may not be able to control the people's anger.

Holy site

Hundreds of people have been injured in the clashes, which began on Thursday after a visit by the right-wing Israeli politician Ariel Sharon to the holy site in Jerusalem which is revered by both Muslims and Jews.

Muslims call the complex the Haram al-Sharif or 'Noble Sanctuary', while Jews call it the Temple Mount.

Control over the site is the main stumbling block in the way of a final settlement in the Middle East peace process.

A Palestinian minister, Yasir Abd-Rabbuh, said the peace process was being drowned in blood.

Days of violence

Saturday's demonstrations saw thousands of Palestinians take to the streets to protest against the death of six Palestinians on Friday, some attacking Israeli checkpoints with stones and petrol bombs.

Violent days

Wednesday

Gaza bomb kills Israeli soldier

Thursday

Clashes erupt after Sharon visits Al-Aqsa
Second bomb in Gaza

Friday

Palestinian soldier kills Israeli on joint patrol
Second day of Al-Aqsa clashes - six Palestinians killed

Saturday

16 die in clashes in West Bank and Gaza

Sunday

At least 11 die in further clashes, including an Israeli border guard and - in Israel - an Israeli Arab protester

Israeli troops responded with rubber-coated bullets and, in some cases, with live rounds.

In Gaza, Palestinian policemen fired back at the Israelis with their own live bullets.

On Friday, Israeli riot police stormed the Al-Aqsa mosque at the centre of the holy complex, opening fire on stone-throwing worshippers - a move described as the start of a "battle for Jerusalem" by a leader of the Palestinian Fatah movement.

Mr Arafat has been visiting Cairo to discuss the crisis with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Both Egypt and Jordan have warned of the consequences of the violence for the Middle East peace process.