December 22, 2003	Monday	Shawwal 27, 1424

NABLUS, Dec 21: A five-year-old Palestinian boy was killed by Israeli fire in Balata refugee camp on Sunday, Palestinian medics said.

Mohammad al-Araj was hit in the chest during exchanges between stone throwing demonstrators and Israeli troops, the medics said.

The youngster’s death brings the toll from the more than three-year-old Palestinian uprising to 3,654, including 2,734 Palestinians and 854 Israelis.

Earlier Sunday, a 15-year-old Palestinian boy died, more than a month after being shot in the head when Israeli troops opened fire on demonstrators in Balata, hospital officials said.

Nureddin Hamran was injured on November 17, when Israeli troops fired on a group of demonstrators who were throwing stones at them in the refugee camp. Hamran, who lives in a village near Nablus, was visiting Balata and had joined in the demonstration.—AFP