Israeli troops cuff Palestinian children

Israeli troops in the West Bank detained four Palestinian children aged five to nine years for more than an hour Friday with their hands cuffed, Palestinian witnesses said. An Israeli military spokeswoman said that troops rounded up some minors during rioting in the northern West bank village of Kfar Qaddum but held them only briefly. "When the soldiers realized that these were youngsters who were under age they just asked them a few questions and let them go," she said. She did not know their ages or if handcuffs were used. Palestinian activist Murad Ashtiye told Agence France Presse that clashes erupted with soldiers in the village during the weekly protest there against Israeli occupation by Palestinians and international activists. "Four children who were present in the area had stun grenades thrown at them by Israeli soldiers, which frightened them," said Ashtiye of the village's Popular Struggle Coordination Committee. "Then the soldiers arrested them and tied their hands behind their backs using plastic strips," he added, identifying the children as Tariq Hikmet, 9, Hossam Khaldun, 7, six-year old Malak Hikmet and Ahmad Abdessalam, 5.