ISRAELI TROOPS CLASHED WITH HUNDREDS OF PALESTINIAN STONE THROWERS IN THE WEST BANK CITY OF NABLUS ON WEDNESDAY, FIRING TEAR GAS AND RUBBER-COATED STEEL PELLETS TO PUSH BACK THE CROWDS. TWO PALESTINIANS WERE INJURED BY RUBBER BULLETS, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS QUOTED PALESTINIAN WITNESSES AS SAYING. EARLIER WEDNESDAY, TROOPS IN ABOUT 30 JEEPS SEARCHED FOR WANTED PALESTINIANS IN THE CITY AND BRIEFLY DETAINED FOUR FEMALE RELATIVES OF SUSPECTS, PALESTINIAN SECURITY OFFICIALS SAID. ALSO WEDNESDAY, A 19-YEAR-OLD PALESTINIAN WAS CAUGHT WITH FIVE HOMEMADE PIPE BOMBS AT AN ARMY CHECKPOINT OUTSIDE NABLUS, THE ISRAELI ARMY SAID. SAPPERS DETONATED THE EXPLOSIVE, THE ARMY SAID.
