Extremists vandalise old Muslim cemetery in Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Feb 14 (AFP) Suspected Jewish extremists scrawled anti-Arab graffiti on the headstones in an ancient Muslim cemetery in west Jerusalem. "The words 'price tag' and Stars of David were scrawled on around a dozen tombs in the Muslim cemetery in Mamilla in central Jerusalem," a police spokeswoman today told AFP, saying an inquiry had been opened. Such incident often take place in retaliation for Israeli government moves to dismantle unauthorised settler outposts, with today's vandalism apparently linked to the removal of six caravans from the Maale Rehavam outpost in the southern West Bank a day earlier. The move sparked angry protests by settlers and their supporters in and around Jerusalem. There have been several attacks on Mamilla graveyard, known in Arabic as Ma'man Allah cemetery, which dates from the 12th century and is the resting place of several Sufi saints. Descendants of those interred in the west Jerusalem cemetery say it also houses the remains of soldiers and officials of legendary Muslim ruler Saladin. (AFP) ASY 02142325 NNNN