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Violence at Jerusalem holy site Jerusalem holy site clashes end
(about 2 hours later)
Violence has broken out at a contested Jerusalem holy site after Israeli police moved in to break up crowds of stone-throwing Palestinians. A tense calm is reported in the Old City of Jerusalem after clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians erupted at a contested holy site.
Hundreds of police poured into the compound known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif and Jews as the Temple Mount, firing rubber bullets and tear gas. Dozens of people were hurt when police moved in to quell violent protests against excavation work in the area.
A number of Palestinians are reported to have barricaded themselves inside the al-Aqsa mosque within the compound. Scores of Palestinians briefly barricaded themselves into the al-Aqsa mosque - Islam's third holiest site.
They were protesting at excavation work being carried out by Israel nearby. The violence flared over the digging work, which protesters say threatens the al-Aqsa mosque compound.
Plan of the holy sites
The excavations are a prelude to the construction of a new walkway leading to the compound and the mosque - Islam's third holiest site.
Palestinians say it could damage the foundations of the compound and Muslim leaders had called for a "day of anger" on Friday to voice their opposition to the move.
We are besieged. Ambulances are not allowed to enter to evacuate the injured Palestinian people. Sheikh Mohammad Hussein, speaking from inside al-Aqsa mosque
The Israeli authorities say renovations are needed to safeguard the ancient site and have guaranteed that there will be no structural damage to the area.
The compound is also revered by Jews as the site of their biblical temples.The compound is also revered by Jews as the site of their biblical temples.
It is situated, along with most of Jerusalem's holy sites, in the Old City in East Jerusalem - an area captured by Israel during the 1967 Middle East war. The BBC's Matthew Price in the Muslim quarter of the Old City says the situation there remains tense.
Israeli police say 17 protesters and 15 police officers have been injured in the clashes. class="bodl" href="#complex">Plan of the holy sites
Sheikh Mohammad Hussein, who is holed up inside the mosque, spoke to the BBC by telephone saying that Israeli forces had thrown a cordon around the area and were not allowing anyone in or out. He says a fire is burning in one of the lanes leading to the al-Aqsa mosque compound, while young Palestinians with scarves wrapped around their heads are occasionally throwing stones at Israeli police stationed there.
"We are besieged. Ambulances are not allowed to enter to evacuate the injured Palestinian people. Paramedics are offering first aid to them," he said. Our correspondent says it appears that the disturbances of earlier have started to die down but the Israeli police are still trying to clear Palestinian youths from the streets.
Dangerous flashpoint Stand-off
The BBC's Matthew Price in Jerusalem says that although at present these are relatively minor skirmishes, such is the sensitivity of this site that it has the potential to trigger much greater violence elsewhere.
We are working carefully and cautiously and waiting for them to come out and leave the area Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld
An Israeli police spokesman, Micky Rosenfeld, told the BBC that more than 2,500 police officers had been deployed in the Old City to prevent the unrest from spreading.An Israeli police spokesman, Micky Rosenfeld, told the BBC that more than 2,500 police officers had been deployed in the Old City to prevent the unrest from spreading.
"We are in complete control of the situation. Our police officers and border police are located at every area in and around East Jerusalem as well as in the Temple Mount," he said.
"The rioters who have dispersed have entered inside the different areas as well as the mosque and at the moment police are not entering. We are working carefully and cautiously and waiting for them to come out and leave the area."
There have been widespread protests among Palestinians and the wider Muslim world since the excavations began on Tuesday.
SACRED TO MUSLIMS Site of Prophet Muhammad's first prayers and ascent into Heaven, home to al-Aqsa mosque and Dome of the Rock SACRED TO JEWS Site of first and second Temples and the rock on which Abraham offered his son as a sacrifice Clickable guide to holy sitesSACRED TO MUSLIMS Site of Prophet Muhammad's first prayers and ascent into Heaven, home to al-Aqsa mosque and Dome of the Rock SACRED TO JEWS Site of first and second Temples and the rock on which Abraham offered his son as a sacrifice Clickable guide to holy sites
The compound area has regularly been a flashpoint for violence. Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the protesters who pelted them with stones.
Israeli police say 20 protesters and 15 police officers were injured in the clashes.
Sheikh Mohammad Hussein, who was inside the mosque along with about 150 protesters, told the BBC Israeli forces threw a cordon around the area and did not allow anyone in or out.
The protesters left following a stand-off with police outside the mosque.
Flashpoint
The excavations, which began on Tuesday, are a prelude to the construction of a new walkway leading to the compound.
Israeli authorities say the work is needed to safeguard the ancient site and have guaranteed that there will be no structural damage to the area.
The compound, in the Old City in East Jerusalem - an area captured by Israel during the 1967 Middle East war - has regularly been a flashpoint for violence.
In 1996, Israel's opening of an exit to a tunnel near the site triggered riots in which 80 people died in clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli troops.In 1996, Israel's opening of an exit to a tunnel near the site triggered riots in which 80 people died in clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli troops.
And in 2000, the Palestinian uprising began at the mosque following a controversial tour of the site by Israel's then opposition leader, Ariel Sharon.And in 2000, the Palestinian uprising began at the mosque following a controversial tour of the site by Israel's then opposition leader, Ariel Sharon.
Since 1967, the compound has remained under Muslim jurisdiction in conjunction with neighbouring Jordan.Since 1967, the compound has remained under Muslim jurisdiction in conjunction with neighbouring Jordan.
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