Palestinians mark 1948 uprooting with sirens, rallies, black flags
May 15, 2008 13:54 EDT

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) -- Palestinians are marking the 60th anniversary of the creation of Israel -- and their displacement -- with rallies, sirens and black balloons.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians either fled or were driven out of their homes during the 1948 war that led to Israel's creation. Palestinians refer to it by an Arabic word for catastrophe.

In the West Bank city of Ramallah, thousands stood in silence in a downtown square, some carrying black flags. After the wailing sirens, they listened to a taped speech from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas . At a separate event, youngsters released black balloons near a crossing into Israel.

In Gaza, several thousand marched toward a sealed Israeli border crossing. Several dozen teens threw stones at Israeli positions on the border. Israeli forces fired live rounds and tear gas. Hamas police say three Palestinians were wounded.