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RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Thirteen Palestinians were injured in clashes with Israeli forces near Ofer detention center in Ramallah on Friday, onlookers said.

Seven people were shot with live bullets, a Ma'an reporter said.

Five were hurt with rubber-coated steel bullets. A journalist was struck in the back with a tear-gas canister.

The clashes broke out after Israeli forces attacked Palestinians who were performing Friday prayers there. The afternoon prayer was held near the detention center to protest Israel's refusal to release to a fourth group of veteran Palestinian prisoners.

Palestinians responded by throwing rocks, the Ma'an reporter said.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said forces fired at "rioters" who threw rocks and burning tires at security forces.

The spokeswoman said five people were lightly injured by riot-dispersal means.

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Crowd gathers outside Ofer Prison to protest Israel's refusal to release prisoners; reports say 4 protesters shot with live bullets.

by Jack Khoury and Haaretz

At least 13 Palestinians were wounded on Friday in clashes with IDF soldiers outside Ofer Prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah. Four of those wounded were shot with live bullets, Palestinian news agency Ma'an reported.

According to witnesses, Israeli soldiers stationed at Ofer Prison also fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the crowd, numbering some 200 people, and Palestinian protesters threw rocks at the troops.

The crowd began to gather outside the detention center after Friday prayers to protest Israel's refusal to release Palestinian prisoners.

An Israeli army spokeswoman was quoted by Ma'an as saying that forces fired at "rioters" who threw rocks and burning tires at security forces. He added that five people were lightly wounded by riot-dispersal means.