RAMALLAH, West Bank – Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip observed a general strike on Wednesday, in a rare show of unity after Israel killed 18 people in fighting a day earlier.

JENIN, West Bank – Israeli troops shot dead a leader of the Islamic Jihad militant group in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, Palestinian hospital officials and witnesses said.

TEHRAN (FNA) Tehran said US President George Bush could be prosecuted for his belligerent and unreal statements against Iran, adding that the US president would be impeached for his irrational wording by his own party upon return to Washington from a tour of the Middle-East.