Israeli forces arrested 13 Palestinians in the West Bank, saying they were wanted by Israeli security, Palestinian sources said on Tuesday.

Nine of the detainees were rounded up in Nablus city, two in Hebron and two in Ramallah, the security sources added.

During the raid in Ramallah, the Israeli army said it seized two explosive devices and put them out without any casualties.

Meanwhile, the Israeli radio reported that the border police arrested 77 Palestinian workers who were staying in Israel without having permission.

The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) has often demanded Israel to halt West Bank raids but the military operations continued there despite the ongoing security liaison between Israel and the PNA.

(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2009)