GAZA, Sept. 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Unemployed Palestinians clashed on Monday with police and security forces in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis, Palestinian security sources and witnesses reported.

    Witnesses said some 1,000 jobless Palestinian workers marched early Monday to the headquarters of Khan Younis municipality, demanding the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) guarantee jobs for them.

    Palestinian police and security forces wearing body armors rushed to the scene and clashed with dozens of the stone-throwing demonstrators.

    A number of the policemen were lightly wounded, the security sources said.

    The Gaza Strip records about 60 percent of unemployment and some of the protesters said they have been out of work for five years.

    This high unemployment rate is due to Israel's military measures imposed on the Palestinians at crossings and checkpoints between the Gaza Strip and Israel as the Gaza residents heavily depend on employment inside Israel.

    The PNA has promised to improve life conditions in the tiny coastal strip by increasing infrastructure construction after Israel's withdrawal is complete by mid-September. Enditem