Egyptian minister attacked in Jurusalem

Egypt’s foreign minister, on a peace mission to Israel, was rushed to hospital after being attacked today by Muslims at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

Ahmed Maher had left talks with Israeli premier Ariel Sharon to pray at the Mosque, Islam’s third-holiest site, in the Old City .

Witnesses said Muslim extremists shouted at him and tried to attack him. Bodyguards surrounded the minister and whisked him out of the compound.

They said he was heard saying, “I’m going to choke, I’m going to choke” as he was being taken away.

A convoy raced Maher to an Israeli hospital.

Israeli police said protesters threw shoes at Maher. Muslims remove their shoes at the entrance to mosques.

The statement said that police were not guarding Maher in the mosque area. Israeli police usually stay outside the compound, leaving security to the Muslim Council.

Earlier Maher held talks with Israeli leaders about resuming peace talks with the Palestinians.