JERUSALEM, April 2: At least 20 Palestinians were wounded and a dozen more arrested after clashing with Israeli police at the Al Aqsa mosque compound after Friday prayers.

The police conducted a rare raid into the compound at the end of the prayers after accusing young Palestinians of starting throwing stones on Jewish worshippers at the Wailing Wall below and at police deployed nearby.

Hundreds of Palestinians took refuge inside the mosque to escape the teargas, sound grenades and rubber bullets fired by the officers who stormed the compound.

An Israeli police spokesman said "several hundred youths hurled stones. They then took refuge inside the mosque and continued throwing stones from inside".

Stun bombs were fired inside the mosque, in one of the most serious incidents to break out at the site in recent months, prompting the Palestinian leadership to denounce the police intervention as "a grave escalation on the part of (Israeli premier Ariel) Sharon".

"This is part of a criminal plan that aims to take over the Al Aqsa mosque in line with the wishes of (the extremist, right-wing) Temple Mount Faithful who overtly work to destroy the mosque and build the so-called (Jewish) temple on its spot," said a statement.

"The Al Aqsa mosque is in danger and every Muslim, Christian and honest people must act to protect it," it added.

Palestinian negotiations minister Saeb Erakat condemned the "dangerous escalation" and termed it a provocation by Israel.

A leader of the Hamas, Ismail Haniya, said riot police storming the holy compound constituted "an escalation in Israel's policy, which aims to harm the mosque and Palestinian lives".

After a standoff that lasted approximately one hour, those trapped inside exited the mosque peacefully and police nabbed several youths.

"I cannot believe they fired sound grenades inside the mosque. It is truly unacceptable," Sheikh Mohammed Hussein, imam of the mosque, said.

An eyewitness outside the compound said he had seen 10 people being ferried away by ambulance and it was not immediately known how serious the injuries were.

Several journalists were also beaten by police, one of whom had his camera smashed and film confiscated.

The Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation erupted in Sept 2000 after a controversial visit to the mosque compound by present premier Ariel Sharon, who was then the opposition leader. -AFP