Riots in Jerusalem after Palestinian man found hanged

Jerusalem, Nov 17 (IANS/EFE) Rioting occurred overnight in the Arab districts of East Jerusalem after the body of a Palestinian driver was found hanging in a bus belonging to an Israeli company, media reported Monday.

Palestinian press reports identified the driver as Yusuf Hassan Ramuni, 32, a father of two, and said he was killed by Jews.

His body was found Sunday night in an industrial area in West Jerusalem and Israeli police ruled that his death was a suicide as his body showed no signs of violence.

However, Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told Efe news agency that Ramuni's remains would undergo an autopsy to clarify any doubts.

The Palestinian news agency Ma'an reported that Ramuni was killed by Jewish settlers, while Jerusalem's Al-Quds newspaper reported that the driver was lynched by six Jews.

Reports of the death and rumours that he was killed by Jews swept through the city's Arab districts and on social network sites.

Ramuni should have started his shift at 9.20 p.m. but another driver found his body hanging inside the bus.

His relatives, who said there was no reason for Ramuni to take his own life, took photographs of his body and claimed there were signs of violence.

Palestinian bus drivers complain they have long been subjected to violence by Jews.

The death took place on the same night during which an Israeli man was injured after being reportedly attacked by a Palestinian in West Jerusalem.

Police were still searching for the aggressor who witnesses said fled towards the Damascus Gate, one of the entrances to the Old City.

--IANS/EFE

ab/dg