Palestinian teenager shot dead

A 15-year-old Palestinian boy was shot dead late today by Israeli troops in the West Bank town of Beitunia near Ramallah, Palestinian medical and security sources said.

Medical sources named the victim as Hani Khalil, and said a second boy, aged 14, was seriously injured in the incident near the vast separation barrier which Israel is building in the West Bank.

An Israeli military source said an initial investigation into the shooting showed "no troops had fired in the area". She also said no complaints had been filed with an office which liaises with the Palestinians.

The latest death brings the overall toll since the start of the Palestinian intifada, or uprising, in September 2000 to 4732, including 3677 Palestinians and 981 Israelis, according to an AFP count.