Jerusalem - Dozens of Palestinians clashed with Israeli police in the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Ras el-Amoud, east of the city, following the Friday prayers leaving few Palestinians and policemen hurt, according to local and medical sources.

Palestinians had called for a day of rage on Friday to protest attempts by extremist Jews to hold prayers inside one of Islam's holiest sites, the al-Aqsa Mosque, in the Old City of Jerusalem. Jews also believe the site is the location of their old temple.

Medics said at least five people were treated for tear gas inhalation and beating in Ras el-Amoud after police stormed Palestinians who blocked the main road to prevent police from chasing them into the neighbourhood's narrow alleyways.

Palestinians also threw rocks at Israeli police in Wadi el-Joz and Sur Baher neighbourhoods of Jerusalem without any reports of anyone hurt in the clashes.

Further to the north of Jerusalem, Palestinians clashed with Israeli soldiers manning Qalandia checkpoint. Soldiers responded with tear gas. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement called for a general strike on Friday throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip to protest the Israeli measures in Jerusalem.

The Israeli police has restricted throughout the week entry of Muslim worshippers to al-Aqsa Mosque claiming that it was trying to prevent outbreak of riots.

Only Muslim males over 50 and women of all ages who were residents of East Jerusalem were allowed into the mosque compound. This measure highly restricted the number of Muslim worshippers at al-Aqsa Mosque for the weekly Friday prayer and limited it to only 7,000 people.

Heeding the Fatah call for a strike and marches, several hundred Palestinians marched in Palestinian cities in the West Bank calling for protecting Jerusalem against Israeli measures to turn it into a predominantly Jewish city.

In the Gaza Strip controlled since June 2007 by the Islamist movement Hamas, Palestinians marched in several cities also in support of Jerusalem heeding calls by Hamas and Muslim leaders to turn this Friday into a day of rage. (dpa)