Israel police enter Islam holy place

JERUSALEM: Israeli police entered one of Islam´s holiest places -- annexed east Jerusalem´s Al-Aqsa mosque --- on Sunday to tackle suspected Palestinian rioters, police said.

The compound, which is also revered by Jews, is one of the biggest flashpoints in the Middle East. Israel routinely imposes age restrictions on Muslim worshippers.

"Masked rioters fled into the mosque and started to throw stones and blocks at police from inside Al-Aqsa mosque," police said.

"They threw fireworks directly at police," they said."In light of the severe confrontation and the escalating actions of the rioters and with the aim of preventing further injury to police...forces entered a number of metres (yards) inside and closed the doors to the mosque with the rioters inside, restoring order."

After Israeli police entered the mosque in November, Jordan -- one of the very few Arab states with diplomatic relations with Israel -- recalled its ambassador.

The mosque compound is the third holiest site in Islam after Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia.