Palestinian minister dies after beating

A senior Palestinian minister died on Wednesday after being assaulted by Israeli border police during a protest march in the West Bank, medical and security sources said.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas condemned the "barbaric act" and vowed measures in response.

Ziad Abu Ein, 55, who was in charge of the issue of Israeli settlements for the Palestinian Authority, "was martyred after being beaten in the chest", said Ahmed Bitawi, the director of the Ramallah hospital.

A Palestinian security source said that Israeli police beat Abu Ein with the butts of their rifles and their helmets during a protest march in the village of Turmus Ayya near Ramallah.

An Agence France-Presse photographer said Israeli policemen had fired tear gas as Abu Ein participated in a march of about 300 Palestinians who intended to plant olive trees.

Three policemen grabbed Abu Ein and hit him in the chest, the photographer said. Abu Ein fell and an Israeli army doctor rushed to treat him before he was taken to a hospital.

Another witness, Kamal Abu Safaka, said Abu Ein was "beaten by a soldier" in the chest "after having a conversation with the officer in charge".

The Israeli army had no immediate comment.

Abbas condemned "the brutal assault that led to the martyrdom" of Abu Ein, calling it "a barbaric act that cannot be tolerated or accepted", Palestinian news agency WAFA said.

"We will take the necessary measures after the results of the investigation into the incident," Abbas said, declaring three days of mourning.

The Islamist movement Hamas, the de facto rulers in the Gaza Strip, issued a statement mourning Abu Eid's death and calling on the Palestinian Authority to cease security coordination with Israel.

"The time has come to rally all our forces in facing the criminal Zionist occupation and stop all sorts of security coordination with the occupation," it said.

AFP - Xinhua - Reuters