Xinhua - English

JERUSALEM, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The situation in the Old City of Jerusalem calmed down Friday afternoon following clashes between Israeli police and Muslim worshipers wounded at least 15 police, an Israeli police source said.

Michey Rosenfeld, spokesman for Israeli police, told Xinhua that the situation in the Old City of Jerusalem has now returned quiet and calm.

At midday Friday, clashes erupted as Israeli police broke in to al-Aqsa Mosque compound and hurled stun grenades to disperse Muslims worshipers who threw stones at police in the Western Wall area, sparking a large-scale riot in the city.

Israel police shut down all the entrances to the aforementioned area and regained the control of the situation there, the spokesman said.

Local daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported on its website that the Muslim worshipers who had barricaded themselves inside al-Aqsa Mosque compound are leaving the area after an agreement was stricken between lawmaker Talab El-Sana from the United Arab Listand Jerusalem police chief whereby they would leave without being arrested.

But the police made it clear that if the worshipers resumes tone-throwing, they will be removed by force.

A police officer guarding the entrance of the Western Wall Plaza told a Xinhua correspondent at the scene that the situation in al-Aqsa Mosque compound has returned quiet now, and Muslim worshipers started to leave the mosque.

The clashes at the end of noon prayers came after days of Israel's repair work near al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third-holiest shrine, which brought on condemnation around the Arab countries in the Middle East and raised concern that it would undermine the peace efforts in the region.

But Israel insists that the excavation work will impose no threat to the holy mosque, pointing out that it aims to build a permanent and safe bridge to the entrance of the compound.

About 15 Israeli police were wounded in the riots, spokesman Rosenfeld told Xinhua, adding that 17 Palestinians were arrested.

Meanwhile, a number of Palestinians were also reported being injured in the riots, but the specific number is not available right now.

Jerusalem police chief Ilan Franco was quoted by Yedioth Ahronoth as saying that the decision to break into al-Aqsa Mosque compound to quell riots was "difficult and complicated, but justified."

Franco expected that the excavation work near the compound would start again Sunday. He said police would reassess circumstances and prepare themselves according to intelligence information.

The compound, where al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock is located, is referred to by Jews as the Temple Mount and by Muslimsas al-Haram al-Sherif, the Noble Sanctuary.

The compound is where the second Palestinian uprising erupted in 2000 after a controversial visit by then Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon.

Meanwhile, the website of Yedioth Ahronoth reported that some 3,000 demonstrators marched in Israel's northern city of Nazareth Friday afternoon to protest against Israel's excavations.

The demonstration was organized by the Islamic Movement, and the group's leaders were expected to deliver speeches following the march.

JERUSALEM, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Israeli police raided the al-Aqsa Mosque compound and hurled stun grenades at Muslims protesting there at midday Friday, and several were injured and arrested.

According to Israel Radio, 4,000 Muslim worshippers gathered at al-Aqsa Mosque compound for Friday prayers on the day and the clashes broke out after demonstrators threw stones at the Western Wall area below.

15 Israeli police wounded in riots in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Some 15 Israeli police were wounded in riots with Palestinians in Jerusalem's Old City on Friday, police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said.

Israel defends construction work near Al-Aqsa Mosque

JERUSALEM, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli Antiquities Authority Tuesday defended its construction work near Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem, saying it was building a safe bridge to the compound.

Tensions continue in Jerusalem over excavation

JERUSALEM, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Tensions stemmed from Israel's excavations near a Islamic holy site in the Old City of Jerusalem continued on Wednesday, Israel's local daily Ha'aretz reported.