4 Arabs Killed in Bloody Clash With Israeli Troops

In some of the bloodiest clashes of the yearlong Palestinian uprising, Israeli troops shot and killed four Arabs and wounded 24 others, three critically, today in rioting that occurred in advance of U.S.-PLO talks in Tunisia.

The confrontations came during a funeral for a Palestinian teen-ager in the West Bank city of Nablus, hospital officials said.

“There were violent disturbances all over Nablus, and several demonstrations were obviously planned ahead of time,” an army spokeswoman said, adding that it appeared stones and tires were stacked in preparation.

The army clamped a curfew on Nablus, the West Bank’s largest city, to curb rioting.

The clashes were sparked by the death Thursday night of 15-year-old Ashraf Haj Daoud, who died of a gunshot wound suffered during clashes Nov. 25, doctors at Nablus’ Anglican Hospital said.

The youth’s brother was one of those injured today, officials said.

The deaths raised to 328 the number of Palestinians killed in the Palestinian revolt against Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Thirteen Israelis have died.

Nablus residents declared an impromptu general strike to protest the teen-ager’s death and clashes occurred in the youth’s neighborhood of Ras El Ein during a funeral march today, Arab witnesses said.

They said dozens of masked youths carried the coffin wrapped in a Palestinian flag. As they marched, many waved the Palestinian banner and chanted, “We will avenge your blood, Daoud!”

Some Palestinians then began to hurl stones at Israeli troops, who opened fire.

The Arab witnesses said heavy black smoke from burning tires filled the air, and the wail of ambulance sirens was heard. Dozens of roadblocks were erected by residents, and black flags of mourning fluttered from many rooftops.