Ramallah  - The Palestinian Authority's top Islamic cleric on Tuesday issued a fatwa, or Islamic ruling, banning the issuance of marriage contracts without a certificate proving that couples are free of the swine flu virus.

The religious ruling was issued after more swine flu cases were registered in the West Bank.

In his fatwa, Chief Justice Taysseer al-Tamimi ordered religious courts in the Palestinian territories not to complete wedding procedures, unless couples bring a document from the Health Ministry proving they are not infected with the flue virus.

Al-Tamimi said the fatwa aims at curbing the spread of the virus in the West Bank.

The Health Ministry said Tuesday that two new cases were discovered in the cities of Ramallah and Bethlehem, raising the number of H1N1 cases in the Palestinian territories to 69. No deaths have been reported. (dpa)