Palestinian plea to US

The Palestinian prime minister asked US President George W. Bush to reconsider his tacit recognition of some Jewish settlements in the West Bank as Israeli troops killed nine Palestinians in fighting in the Gaza Strip.

An Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahiya entered its third day. Troops blew up a partially built three-storey building, rocking the town and causing damage to nearby buildings. The operation sparked fierce clashes in which nine Palestinians were killed.

Israeli troops shot and killed three Palestinian gunmen in the West Bank town of Tulkarm, Palestinian officials said. The details of their killing were not immediately known.