RAMALLAH, Aug. 31 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli army forces, backed by tanks and armor personnel carriers, stormed on Tuesday morning the northern West Bank town of Jenin, Palestinian residents and security sources reported.

    They said that the soldiers besieged houses, forced the residents to leave, and searched inside, claiming that they were looking for weapons and Palestinian militants wanted by Israel.

    The residents said that Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants exchanged fire as the soldiers besieged a house where several Palestinian militants were hiding.

    The Israeli soldiers called for a reinforcement of soldiers and vehicles, covered by Apache helicopters hovering over the town, andthey immediately imposed a curfew preventing residents from leaving their homes.

    Meanwhile, Palestinian security sources said that the Israeli army had detained 38 Palestinians. Israel says the Palestinians arewanted by its security forces for interrogation.

    The Palestinian sources said that most of the arrests were made in the southern West Bank towns of Hebron and Bethlehem, as well as Ramallah and the villages around it. Enditem