A Palestinian protestor was killed and seven others were wounded on Friday afternoon in clashes with Israeli soldiers near the village of Na'alin, west of the West Bank city of Ramallah, medics and witnesses said.

Dozens of Palestinians usually demonstrate every Friday afternoon in the village against the Israeli ongoing construction of the separation wall and the confiscation of Palestinian properties of lands.

Some 250 Palestinian protestors, leftists and foreign citizens demonstrated against the construction of the separation wall near Na'alin, said Palestinian witnesses.

They added that as soon as the demonstrators gathered while chanting anti-wall slogans and waving Palestinian flag, clashes erupted in the area with Israeli soldiers.

Several Palestinian youngsters threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who responded with rubber bullets and tear-gas canisters. One Palestinian was critically injured after he was hit in the head by one of the canisters.

Medics in Ramallah hospital said that Basim Abu Rahma, 25 years old, died later of his wound, while seven other Palestinians were brought to the hospital with light and moderate injuries.

The medics said Israeli soldiers used live fire, rubber bullets and tear-gas on the protesters, while residents said the forces invaded the village before the demonstration started.

(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2009)