Palestinians call on Israel to curb settlers

The Palestinian Authority has called on Israel to curb the activities of Jewish settlers, and to confiscate their weapons.

A statement said Palestinian leaders had, at their weekly meeting, urged Israel to prevent aggression by settlers intent on destroying the peace process.

Earlier, Israeli police said they were holding two right-wing Jewish activists who they suspected of planning a provocation at an Islamic shrine.

A spokesman said the two had planned to throw a pig's head into the Temple Mount complex during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, to spark clashes between Arabs and Jews.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service