Israeli police in riot gear have stormed the square outside al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem after Palestinians gathered to throw stones at the spot where a Palestinian uprising began four years ago.
Police said they fired rubber bullets and tossed stun grenades after hundreds of Muslims leaving Friday prayers threw stones at security men and Jewish worshippers at the Western Wall below.
Shmuel Rabinovitch, chief rabbi at the Western Wall, said police rushed in and evacuated worshippers after a single stone fell into the plaza.
The Islamic Waqf, which oversees the mosque compound, said police acted without provocation and more than 60 people were injured.
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat said in a statement that al-Aqsa was ‘in danger’ and called on all Muslims and Christians and the US-led diplomatic ‘Quartet’ of peace brokers to help safeguard it.
