The new mosque lies under the compound that houses Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock and is the third holiest site in Islam. Jews, who call it the Temple Mount, venerate it as the site of Solomon's Temple. "Dozens of lorries have carted away thousands of tons of rubble that have piled up during the building work and thrown it into the Kidron valley, which is itself an archaeological site," Osnat Goaz, spokeswoman of the Antiquities Department, said. "The Temple Mount sector of Jerusalem has never suffered such large-scale damage," she exaggerated.

She claimed that remains from the early Islamic period of the eighth century and from the various crusades as well as items dating back to the period of the first temple, 3,000 years ago, had been found in the dump being used by the contractors.

Earlier this month Jerusalem's right-wing mayor, Ehud Olmert, threatened legal action against the Waqf on the grounds that its building work was "violating the status quo" and threatening Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem, which is predominantly Arab (Muslim and Christian). But nothing has stopped the determined Muslims from opening an extra door to the Marwani Mosque for the safety of the dozens of thousands of Muslims who insist on praying Taraweeh and Jum'a in Al-Aqsa Mosque in this holy month.

Mujahideen pound Russian forces, Russians deny all
Israel Bombs School in Lebanon, Wounds 20 Children
Pakistanis Burn House Of Ahmadia Leader
Bulgarian Schools To Offer Classes On Islam
Serb Soldiers Are Suspects in Massacre of Muslims
Most of Investigation of Dutch Role in Massacre of Muslims Dropped
Pakistan, India Trade Accusation Of Terrorism Over Kashmir
Turkmenistan Considers Return To Polygamy