Indonesia urges Israel to stop mosque dig

JAKARTA, Feb 9 (Reuters) Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, today urged Israel to stop excavations near Jerusalem's most important holy Islamic site, saying the move could worsen the West Asia conflict.

Israel says the excavation is aimed at salvaging artefacts before construction of a pedestrian bridge leading to the complex, also sacred to Jews.

But Muslims fear the work could damage the foundation of the 1,400-year-old al-Aqsa mosque, Islam's third holiest shrine which has been a flashpoint for Israeli-Palestinian fighting in the past.

''We call on Israel to stop the excavation because not only the activity has the potential to physically harm the mosque which is highly regarded by Muslims, but also will add to the tension unnecessarily and complicate efforts to revive the peace process in West Asia,'' Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda told a news conference.

The excavation work has been criticised by several Arab countries and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said any damage to al-Aqsa would release Palestinian militant groups from a ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip.

The Arab group at the United Nations appealed yesterday to the UN Security Council to stop the excavation, which Israel says will not harm the mosque.

Indonesia also welcomed an agreement reached yesterday by rival Palestinian factions to form a unity government during talks in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. ''It's a step forward. I very much hope this meeting will be a success,'' he said.

Around 85 per cent of Indonesia's 220 million people follow Islam.

Internecine fighting between forces loyal to President Abbas and the governing Hamas movement has killed more than 90 Palestinians since December.

In a January 2006 election, Hamas beat the long-dominant Fatah movement of President Abbas, who is seen as a moderate.

The United States severed contact with the new Hamas government and other factions refused to join.

REUTERS SY RN1420