JERUSALEM, Aug. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- An estimated 40,000 to 50,000 pullout opponents were participating in an anti-disengagement prayer rally at the Western Wall plaza in Jerusalem Wednesday evening, Israel Radio reported.

    More protesters were on their way more than one hour after the rally began, but were held up by major traffic jams around the Old City.

    Police said they did not expect any "unusual incidents" at the prayer rally, but beefed up their presence in the area, closing off streets around the Old City in a bid to keep cars away from the area.

    Police were also preparing for other right-wing anti-pullout protests set for this week.

    Pullout opponents are slated to hold a large rally Thursday at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv, three days ahead of the Gaza pullout.

    Meanwhile, Jerusalem police are preparing for prayer rallies scheduled for Saturday night and Sunday. Hundreds of thousands of worshipers are expected to arrive in the city for events that are expected to take on overtones of a political demonstration.

    Police are still gathering intelligence information on the estimated number of worshipers and protesters in the Temple Mount vicinity, their intentions and possible Palestinian responses.

    Based on the intelligence, police will decide closer to the weekend on the extent of their deployment and whether to restrict some people's entry into the Western Wall plaza or the Temple Mount. Enditem