Israeli police vow to prevent Arafat burial in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM, Nov 7 (AFP) - Israeli police chief Moshe Karadi said on Sunday he feared that when Yasser Arafat died the Palestinians might try to take his body secretly to Jerusalem for burial, and vowed his force would prevent this.
Palestinian Authority president Arafat is critically ill in a Paris hospital and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has said he opposed his burial in Jerusalem at the Al-Aqsa mosque, the third holiest place in Islam.
Arafat has in the past expressed his wish to be buried at the mosque, but the site is also home to the Temple Mount, the holiest place in Judaism.
"Conforming to the government's decision, we will work alongside the army to prevent a burial of Arafat in Jerusalem," Karadi told journalists, adding the police would take adequate measures to prevent his remains being "transferred clandestinely".

11/07/2004 19:20 GMT - AFP