Jerusalem tense as Mideast talks continue

Thousands of Israeli police have been deployed in Jerusalem to try to prevent violence on the most important Muslim prayer day of the year.

Some Palestinian factions have called for protests on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.

The Israelis have banned young Palestinians from praying at Jerusalem's main holy sites.

The increased security measures come as peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators in Washington reach a critical stage.

Delegates from both sides have expressed optimism, but correspondents say the talks are clearly very delicate. The talks began on Tuesday and are expected to end tomorrow, Saturday.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service