(15 Oct 2004)
++Night shots++
1. Minaret, zoom out to worshippers heading to Temple Mount (al-Haram al-Sharif) for morning prayers AUDIO of call to prayer
2. Various of worshippers walking through gates to al-Aqsa mosque, Israeli soldiers on guard
3. Ramadan decorations, tilt down to worshippers walking
4. Various of worshippers walking towards al-Aqsa mosque
5. Minaret AUDIO of call to prayer
STORYLINE:
Worshippers in Jerusalem headed towards Islam's third holiest shrine on Friday for the first prayers of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
In the past, as many as 250-thousand Muslims have streamed to the Aqsa mosque for Friday worship during the holy month.
On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon rescinded a threat to severely limit the number of Muslim worshippers who would be allowed to pray at the hotly disputed site on the first day of Ramadan.
Israeli officials and experts warned that a section of the compound, weakened by an earthquake, might collapse under the weight of crowds of worshippers, and their numbers would be severely restricted unless Islamic officials took their own actions.
On Thursday, Sharon's office issued a statement saying it accepted assurances from the Islamic Trust and would allow unlimited numbers of worshippers.
The Aqsa Mosque compound is built on top of the ruins of the biblical Jewish temples, making the walled 36-acre compound the most sensitive site in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Four years ago, Sharon's visit to the compound sparked the current Palestinian intifada.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
