RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Monday denounced Israeli forces’ storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque — the third holiest site for Muslims — and said the action would have a negative impact on world peace and stability.

The Council of Ministers expressed its condemnation after hearing a report about the incident. The report said that Israeli police stormed into the mosque compound and beat up Palestinians.

“The Kingdom condemns Israel’s recurrent attacks on Islamic holy sites. It exposes Israel’s aggressive practices against the unarmed Palestinians,” the Cabinet said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.

The statement said the Israeli aggression would provoke the feelings of Muslims all over the world. “It’s a flagrant aggression against Al-Aqsa Mosque,” the Cabinet said, adding that it would have serious consequences.

The Cabinet meeting, which was chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, also said that the Israeli action violated the teachings of divine religions and international resolutions and charters.

“This action will have its direct and dangerous impact on world peace and stability,” the Cabinet said, and urged the international community to stop the Jewish state’s aggression against the Islamic holy sites.

The Cabinet also condemned the two terrorist bombings of government buildings in Baghdad on Sunday that killed and injured hundreds of innocent people. “Saudi Arabia rejects terrorism,” the Cabinet statement said.

The Cabinet expressed its satisfaction over precautions taken by educational institutions to protect children from swine flu. It urged officials to continue public awareness programs on the disease.

Minister of Social Affairs and acting Minister of Information and Culture Yousuf Al-Othaimeen said the Cabinet adopted a number of other important decisions. It approved the regulations of the National Center for Alternative and Supplementary Medicine.

“The center aims to set out rules and standards for the practice of alternative and supplementary medicine, document its principles and develop the system, especially Islamic and Arab medicine,” he said. The center can also make use of foreign experts.

He said the Kingdom would sign an agreement with Qatar for cooperation in meteorology and environment, adding that the Cabinet agreed to establish a Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council. Another agreement will be signed with Romania to avoid double taxation and prevent tax evasion.

The Cabinet appointed Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Al-Khodairy undersecretary of the Makkah governorate; Abdul Kareem bin Salim Al-Harbi undersecretary of Asir governorate; Hazim bin Muhammad Karkatly ambassador; Mustafa bin Ibrahim Al-Mubarak minister plenipotentiary at the Foreign Ministry; and Muhammad bin Hamad Al-Kuthairy undersecretary for technical affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.