25 December 2004	Saturday	12 Ziqa'ad 1425

RAMALLAH, Dec 24: Israeli soldiers killed three Palestinian militants in a refugee camp in the northern West Bank town of Tulkarm on Friday.

Israeli-Palestinian violence has increased after a brief lull following Yasser Arafat's death last month when new hopes were raised for peace in the Middle East.

The Israeli army said troops opened fire on two suspects in Tulkarm and saw that both were hit but did not know their condition. The Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades said three of its fighters died in an exchange of gunfire with Israeli soldiers in the town's refugee camp. The shootings occurred hours before Christmas celebrations were to begin. -Reuters