Clashes at Jewish-Muslim holy site in Jerusalem

[oberliner]

JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli riot police armed with stun grenades have stormed Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound and clashed with Palestinian stone throwers at the most contested religious sites in the Holy Land.

Fifteen Israeli policemen and at least 20 Palestinians were wounded in protests against nearby Israeli repair work that Arab leaders charge endangers the mosque, as explosions crackled after Muslim weekly prayers.

Some 200 police stormed the compound where they clashed with hundreds of protestors who threw stones and shouted Allah Akbar, God is Greatest, before around 150 rioters barricaded themselves in the holy Al-Aqsa mosque.

The site, venerated by Muslims as the third holiest site in Islam and by Jews as the location of their ancient temple that was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD, is a notorious flashpoint where violence has periodically flared.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070209/ts_afp/mideastjerusalem_070209141355