Violent riots broke out on Sultan Suleiman Street in Jerusalem this morning as angry Arabs hurled stones and bottles at security forces.

At least seven police officers sustained light injuries in the clashes. Two of them were taken to hospital for treatment and the others were treated at the scene.

The youth, who were continuing yesterday's protest against the decision to limit the age of worshippers at the Temple Mount, were holding flags of the Islamic Movement and chanting 'Allahu Akbar' ('God is great').

The police had said they would only allow Muslim men aged 45 and up, and holding Israeli identification cards, to pray at the Mount. The age of Muslim female worshippers would not be limited. Police imposed these temporary restrictions in anticipation of the gathering at the Temple Mount of thousands of Muslims expected to riot against Israeli presence at the Temple Mount.

Security forces responded to the violence with stun grenades and mounted forces. The violence has since subsided, but tensions in the capital are expected to remain high throughout the day.

Earlier in the day, the Jerusalem District police had declared a state of high alert around the Temple Mount, in an attempt to prevent clashes at the holy site.

The high alert was declared ahead of reports that right-wing Jewish group "Revava" was planning a gathering at the Mount, raising fears that group activists could clash with Muslims, who were also scheduled to meet at the Temple Mount. But "Revava" did not turn out to be the cause of today's violence.

Instead, thre violence was caused by the Muslims who gathered there to oppose the arrival of "Revava" in a bid, as they claimed, to "protect the Mount from Jews."

Yesterday, a member of the special Border Guard force detained leading Hamas figure Hassan Yousef who participated in a prayer session at the Mount, without a permit. Yousef was arrested on his way back to Ramallah and taken in for interrogation.

Earlier, he was interviewed by al-Jazeera and called on the entire Islamic nation to liberate Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque.

Meanwhile yesterday, police arrested 31 right-wing activists in the Old City over suspicions they were planning to disturb the peace. 27 of the detainees were lated released.
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