Tight security as thousands make their way to holy shrine

(15 Oct 2004) Jerusalem 1. Wide shot of Damascus gate (one of the entrances to the Muslim Quarter), horse mounted police passing by 2. Wide of horse mounted police 3. Mid shot of Israeli police checking identification of Muslim worshipers 4. Various of Muslim worshipers being checked Bethlehem checkpoint, West Bank 5. Wide of Israeli soldiers at roadblock, white and green concrete blocks on the ground 6. Mid shot of Israeli women soldiers 7. Soldiers checking white van 8. Various of cars passing checkpoint Jerusalem 9. Wide of two Israeli police jeeps arriving in Jerusalem 10. Various of police and soldiers from around the country gathering for briefing 11. Border police group being briefed 12. Various of group of soldiers and police during briefing 13. Soldiers entering a street Qalandia checkpoint, Ramallah-Jerusalem 14. Wide of check-point 15. People walking towards checkpoint, Israeli flag 16. Mid shot of people waiting to cross checkpoint 17. Soldiers checking car 18. Wide pan of checkpoint STORYLINE: Security was tight as thousands of Muslim worshippers made their way to Islam's third holiest shrine to celebrate the first Friday Prayers of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The Al Aqsa Mosque compound is built atop the ruins of the biblical Jewish temples, making it a highly charged religious and emotional location for both Muslims and Jews. Security was tight at the Damascus gate, one of the main entrances of the Muslim quarter in Jerusalem. Police and soldiers were briefed on Friday morning to increase their vigilance in the main checkpoints into Jerusalem. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had said he would limit the number of worshippers at the holy site to 50,000 unless Muslim clergy agreed to take steps to prevent a possible collapse of the structure. Muslim officials insisted the shrine was safe and said they would not meet the Israeli demands, which included roping off a corner of the sacred hilltop, known to Muslims as Haram as-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount. Sharon's office later backed down, issuing a statement saying it accepted assurances from the Islamic Trust and would allow unlimited numbers of worshippers. Israeli officials and experts have warned that a section of the compound weakened by an earthquake might collapse under the weight of crowds of worshippers. Any damage to the site could set off violence that could spread through the region. The walled 36-acre compound is the most sensitive site in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and riots there in 2000 escalated into the current round of fighting. The start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan draws large crowds of worshippers. In the past, as many as 250,000 Muslims have streamed to the site for Friday worship during Ramadan. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...