New Delhi: Srinagar wore a deserted look on Friday following a general strike called by several religious and separatist organisations to protest excavations near Al-Aqsa mosque in Israel.
Muslims in Srinagar said the move was aimed at destroying Islam's third holiest shrine in a conspiracy against Muslims.
Hundreds of people took to streets in the city in protest, raising slogans against Israel and US President George Bush, demanding immediate stop of the construction work near the al-Aqsa mosque. However, Israel says it will not do any damage.
"Israel is trying to destroy the Al-Aqsa mosque and we are protesting against this. All the faithful should get together and rally against the move," ANI quoted a Srinagar resident as saying.
Shops in the city remained closed and traffic was off the roads in the downtown area. Work in government and semi-government departments and other commercial establishments remained affected as majority of employees stayed home in response to the call.
Muslims believe the compound of the Al-Aqsa mosque, where two biblical shrines once stood, Prophet Mohammad ascended to heaven is in Arab East Jerusalem. Israel had captured the region in the 1967 Middle East war.
The shrine has been a trigger for past Israeli-Palestinian violence. A Palestinian uprising began in 2000 after Israel's then Opposition leader Ariel Sharon toured the hilltop area.
(With Agency inputs)
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