Golan: Israel troops fire on pro-Palestinian protesters

The protesters defied razor-wire fences and ditches along the Syrian border in Golan to mark the 44th anniversary of the 1967 Middle-East war.

Israel had vowed to prevent a repeat of a similar march last month, in which hundreds of people breached the fence.

The US state department said it was "troubled" by the "loss of life".

"We call for all sides to exercise restraint," it said. "Provocative actions like this should be avoided."

Several hundred demonstrators - Palestinians and their Syrian supporters - marched to the razor-wired fencing and trenches close to the frontier village of Majdal Shams at around noon.

Many carried Palestinian flags and threw rocks and rubbish over the fence.

Israel's military said its soldiers shouted warnings in Arabic and fired warning shots in the air, before aiming at the legs of those who had reached the fence.

After live gunfire failed to disperse the crowds, Israeli troops fired volleys of tear gas over the border. Many people fled while others lay on the ground.

Syrian TV said more than 300 protesters had been wounded.

An Israeli military spokeswoman told The Jerusalem Post newspaper they were only aware of 12 injuries; Kazinform cites BBC News.

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