JERUSALEM, Feb 13: The Israeli government on Tuesday denied a report that archaeological excavations, as well as building work that sparked Muslim fury near Jerusalem's most contested holy site, had been abandoned.

“No suspension. No halt. The archaeological salvage will continue,” spokeswoman Miri Eisin said after a newspaper reported that the company which owns land next to the site had called off building work and the digs.

“The government of Israel decided in November 2004 to reconstruct the Mughrabi ramp, which leads up to the Temple Mount,” said Eisin. “The salvage archaeological dig, which was started last week, as the first step towards the reconstruction will continue,” she added.

Jerusalem mayor Uri Lupolianski decided on Sunday to suspend construction work to allow public discussion of Israel's plans to replace a damaged wooden bridge leading to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound with a stone ramp.

Nevertheless the Israeli authorities had been insistent that archaeological excavations, a necessary prelude to any future construction work, would continue despite continued condemnation from local Muslim leaders.—AFP