Muslim faithful in Jerusalem warned over holy site

Thousands of Palestinian Muslims who gathered at al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem for the first Friday prayers of Ramadan were told that the shrine is in danger and that Israel intends to destroy it.

The comments came in an address by Sheikh Hamed al-Beitawi, an Islamic official from the West Bank town of Nablus.

He warned that any attempt to divide or destroy al-Aqsa Islam's third holiest shrine would lead to the destruction of Israel.

His comments were denounced by Israeli officials as highly irresponsible.

A spokesman for the prime minister David Bar-Illan said the allegation was totally untrue.

Hundreds of Israeli police and soldiers were deployed ahead of prayers which were attended by up to one-hundred and fifty thousand people.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service