SECURITY FORCES IN THE STREETS; CHECKING PAPERS OF MOTORISTS, AND PASSERS-BY, SEARCHING BINS; SOLDIER SEARCHING COURT YARD; SUSPECTS.




Initials RE/VS/PW/PC



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: ISRAELI SECURITY FORCES PATROLLED THE STREETS OF EAST JERUSALEM, AFTER A CURFEW WAS IMPOSED ON FRIDAY FOLLOWING THE BOMB BLAST WHICH KILLED 12 PEOPLE AND WOUNDED MANY OTHERS. SECURITY FORCES CHECKED CARS, HOUSES, AND PASSERS-BY IN THE EASTERN SECTOR OF THE CITY. THE CURFEW WAS LIFTED TODAY AFTER THE INVESTIGATIONS WERE COMPLETED.

ABOUT 70,000 ARABS LIVING IN THE EASTERN SECTOR OF THE CITY WERE AFFECTED BY THE CURFEW. POLICE SAID THAT ABOUT 100 CURFEW BREAKERS, JEWISH AND ARAB WERE ARRESTED AND WILL APPEAR IN COURT. ABOUT 400 ARABS WERE DETAINED NEAR THE SCENE OF THE EXPLOSION BUT MOST OF THEM HAVE BEEN RELEASED AFTER INTERROGATION. CURFEW REGULATIONS PROVIDED FOR A SPECIAL ROUTE FROM THE JEWISH INHABITED SECTOR TO THE WAILING WALL TO ENABLE WORSHIPPERS TO PRAY THERE. CHRISTIAN AND MOSLEM CLERGYMEN WERE ALSO EXEMPTED FROM THE CURFEW. NORMAL TOURIST VISITS TOOK PLACE AS PLANNED.

DURING THE CURFEW POLICE MANNED ALL ENTRANCES TO THE EASTERN SECTOR AND ONLY PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL PERMITS WERE ALLOWED THROUGH. SUSPECTS WERE HELD FOR FURTHER INTERROGATION. TWO ARAB PALESTINIAN ORGANISATIONS HAVE CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BOMB BLAST, WHILE A GROUP OF ARAB TRADE UNION LEADERS HAVE CONDEMNED IT.