Dozens Hurt as Palestinian Police Clashes with West Bank Youths

Palestinian police clashed Sunday with West Bank youths who were protesting against a U.N. strike that has paralyzed services in refugee camps leaving dozens wounded, sources said.

United Nations Relief and Works Agency employees have been on strike for more than a month, forcing cash-strapped UNRWA to shut schools and stop collecting garbage from West Bank refugee camps.

Palestinian police fired tear gas and live ammunition in the air to prevent youths from the Jalazun refugee camp in the central West Bank from blocking the road between Ramallah and Bir Zeit, an Agence France Presse correspondent said, adding that many were injured.

Palestinian security services spokesman Adnan Damiri told AFP that 40 policemen were wounded in the clashes, including 22 who had to be hospitalized.

Director of Jalazun camp Jumaa Shaaban told AFP the "protest was organized by popular committees from all the camps" and that demonstrations also took place in other West Bank camps.