A riot by Palestinian prisoners in a detention camp in Israel's southern Negev desert has left a soldier and at least 10 rioters wounded.
An Israeli military source said forces went in to break up the riot, which took place in the Ketziot military detention camp, using tear gas and stun grenades.
He added that the inmates had set fire to their own tents during the riot.
"An Israeli soldier and about 10 Palestinians were lightly injured from smoke inhalation from the stun grenades or from the burning tents," he said.
Mr Issa Al-Qaraqa, who heads the Bethlehem-based Palestinian "Prisoners Club", said the riots broke out because the detainees were unhappy with their poor living conditions and treatment.
"When the wardens refused to listen to them, they started shouting, so the wardens fired tear gas at them," he said, saying scores of the prisoners were treated for gas inhalation.
After calm was restored, the prison authorities and the detainees started talks to ease tensions, he said.
The Ketziot camp was erected following Israel's six-week offensive on the West Bank launched in late March 2002, and is where several hundred Palestinians alleged to be involved in anti-Israeli attacks are detained.
The camp consists largely of makeshift tents.
AFP