The shadow of an Iraqi worker pasting election posters is cast on a wall in central Baghdad. (Photo: Yahoo/AFP)

    ¡¡RAMALLAH, Jan. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Four Palestinian militants and one Israeli settler were killed Wednesday in renewed Palestinian-Israeli conflicts in the West Bank and south Gaza Strip, overshadowing prospects of the resumption of peace talks.

    Israeli troops on Wednesday morning killed two Palestinians in the West Bank village of Qarwat Beni Zed northwest of Ramallah, medics said.

    Israel Radio confirmed that the Israeli army killed two Palestinian militants, members of Al Qassam Brigades, Hamas' armedwing.

    Meanwhile, two militants from the Islamic Jihad (Holy War) werekilled as they infiltrated into the Jewish settlement of Morag near the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah, Palestinian security sources said.

    The group said in a leaflet that two militants broke into the settlement, one blew himself up near an Israeli army jeep and the other was killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers.

    According to Israel Radio, one Israeli civilian was also killedand three soldiers wounded in the attack.

    In addition, five Palestinians were detained early Wednesday when several armored vehicles, backed by helicopters, raided southern Gaza City near the Jewish settlement of Nitzarim.

    The violence was the worst flare-up since moderate former primeminister Mahmoud Abbas, who has repeatedly called for an end to the Palestinian-Israeli armed conflicts, won the election for the presidency of the Palestinian National Authority on Sunday.

    Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei on Wednesday condemned the Israeli killing of the two Palestinians near Ramallah, warningit "will harm all the efforts to move the peace talks in the Middle East."

    "The incident shows that the Israeli government still continuesits policies against the Palestinian people, and it is only talking about hopes to revive the peace process."

    The armed wing of Islamic Jihad, Saraya al Quds, on Wednesday claimed responsibility for firing three homemade rockets at the Jewish settlement of Atsmona, west of Rafah.

    The group said in leaflets distributed to reporters that its militants fired three Qassam one rockets at the settlement and therockets hit directly their targets.

    Saraya al Quds vowed to continue resistance till the occupationforces are forced out of Palestinian lands.

    In another development, al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the armed wing of the mainstream Fatah movement, launched two rockets at theNeveh Dekalim settlement west of the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis.

    The group's general commander in the West Bank, Alaa Sanakra, told reporters that "the resistance is a legal Palestinian right, which can't be given up as long as there's (Israeli) occupation."

    The group is ready to lay down arms when Israel ends its occupation completely, he added.

    Sanakra said the brigades' operation in the West Bank embarrasses Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, but the brigades does not mean to embarrass the Palestinian leadership or the new leader Mahmoud Abbas.

    He called upon Abbas to demand Israel end killings and he also called on the Palestinians to support Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen.

    "It's important for all Palestinian sides to support Abu Mazen in his struggle against the Sharon government," he said.

    According to final official results released Wednesday, Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) chief Abbas was elected PNA president with 62.52 percent of the vote. He is expected to besworn in on Saturday. Enditem