BUDRUS, Dec 31: A Swedish MP said he was beaten with batons during his arrest here on Wednesday as Israeli troops used teargas and rubber bullets to break up a protest against the West Bank separation barrier.

Gustav Fridolin, a member of parliament for the Green party, was one of a group of eight protesters detained near the village of Budrus, near the West Bank town of Ramallah.

Troops had opened fire with rubber-coated bullets during the protest, which came five days after an Israeli protester suffered leg injuries during a similar demonstration against the barrier when live fire was used.

"I was hit with a baton in my back while one of the Israeli protesters was shot in the leg by a rubber bullet," Mr Fridolin said. "The protest was peaceful. People, including children, were just standing by the olive trees which they have used for hundreds of years. -AFP