3 Palestinians dead in tension around Jerusalem shrine

Jerusalem, July 22 (IANS) Three Palestinians were killed and 400 wounded in clashes following Friday's massive Muslim prayers and protests over security measures and restricting access to Temple Mount in East Jerusalem.

While one of the victims, Mohamed Mahmoud Sharaf, 17, was killed after he was shot in the neck, another identified as Mohamed Hassan Abu Ganam, 19, died in the clashes, Efe news reported

The third was named as Mohamed Khalaf, 17, who died of his severe wounds.

In addition, the Red Crescent emergency service confirmed 391 people were wounded in the clashes, many after inhaling tear gas, the Palestinian news agency Maan said.

There were also violent incidents in the vicinity of the Old City, with police charges and the arrests of worshippers who, after praying in the streets, threw bottles of water at the police, cutting off access to the walled citadel, where only men over the age of 50 and women were allowed to pass through the points closest to the compound.

The area was swarming with a vast police operation, which prevented the access of the international press in points near the complex, such as the Lions' Gate.

Thousands of Muslims gathered outside the site, the third holy site for this religion and the most holy for Jews, to protest the metal detectors installed by the Israeli government after an attack last Friday, in which two policemen and their three attackers were all killed.