Palestinians clash with Israeli police outside Jerusalem

Clashes erupted Friday at several checkpoints outside Jerusalem as Palestinians protested against an Israeli restriction on their entry to the al-Aqsa mosque compound in the city for Friday prayers.

A Xinhua correspondent saw that Israeli police used tear gas and batons to disperse the protestors, who hurled stones at the officers, at one of checkpoints near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, south of Jerusalem.

No casualty was reported in the clash.

Meanwhile, many Muslims gathered at the compound for prayers around noon Friday during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Israeli security forces are not allowing Palestinian men under 40 to participate in Friday prayers in the compound, fearing disturbances.

The restriction has been in place since Ramadan began three weeks ago. Israeli police have also bolstered their presence in the Old City of Jerusalem over the past three weeks.

The compound, Islam's third holiest site, is also known as the Temple Mount, the most sacred site of Judaism.

Source: Xinhua