JERUSALEM, Apr 3: A militant Palestinian leader died during interrogation by Israeli prison authorities, Palestinians charged Friday, reports AFP.

But a prison spokesman said Nasser, 22, reported to be a leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization's Fatah Hawks, died from "complications following a lung infection."

Violent demonstrations broke out in the Deir El-Balah Refugee Camp in the occupied Gaza Strip, where Nasser had lived.

Palestinians said Nasser died during interrogation in Israel's Ashkelon Prison.

They said Israeli authorities had told Nasser's family that he had been ill and died during questioning, even though the family reported him to have been in perfect health when he was arrested March 20.

Nasser, who was captured along with three other Fatah Hawk suspects, Is suspected of having killed fellow Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israelis and of opening fire on Israeli soldiers and settlers.

The prison spokesman said that Nasser was given medical care shortly after his arrest and transferred to the emergency ward at the Brazilian hospital tn Ashkelon.

Authorities have started an Inqeust to determine the cause of death and the source of the Infection, Israeli police said.

Nasser's lawyer, RaJIal-I Surant, asked Yehuda Hiss, head of the Abu Kabir Medical InsUtute near Tel Aviv, to delay the autopsy until a foreign medical examiner arrives