Note: In Iran a stadium recently collapsed and 300 injured, 2 dead; in Israel, a more advanced civilization - shoddy construction blamed yet the building had a main support column removed 3 or 4 months ago - it was a tragedy waiting to happen. While many arrests have occurred it seems now the Mayor will be the one held responsible? Why did they remove this major support pillar? Saba Sunday, 27 May, 2001, 16:46 GMT 17:46 UK Wedding tragedy: Mayor under fire Many families are mourning several relatives Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert is facing growing calls to resign over the collapse of a wedding building in the city. A tenth person was arrested on Sunday as authorities continue to investigate the cause of the disaster which killed 23 people and injured scores of others. Two opposition members on Jerusalem's city council said in a statement that Mr Olmert - a member of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Likud party - allowed businesses in Jerusalem to operate without permits and supervision. Ehud Olmert says he has done nothing wrong But Mr Olmert, quoted by Maariv newspaper, said he had no intention of resigning because he had a "clear conscience". The liberal Ha'aretz newspaper also criticised the mayor. It added that the disaster reflected a combination of professional negligence, illegal operations and flouting of the business licensing laws. A local Jerusalem weekly newspaper under the headline 'Olmert must go' said the mayor must bear the responsibility for tragedy. Engineering fault Mr Sharon said the government would meet on Tuesday to consider launching an official investigation. The arrests of 10 people come amid growing public anger over allegations of shoddy construction in the hall, which had stood for 15 years in the Talpiot industrial park. The four owners of the building have been arrseted Police and army officials have said an engineering fault was responsible for the collapse. The top floor of the wedding venue, the Versailles hall, buckled under hundreds of guests sending them plunging three storeys to the ground. Memorial service Shards of glass and debris rained down on the injured. Those detained include the hall's owners, two contractors, and the inventor of a light-weight construction material used in many Israeli buildings since the 1980s but since banned. A BBC correspondent in Jerusalem says some of the detained could face charges of causing death through negligence. Candles were lit at the scene of the tragedy On Sunday, seven more victims of the tragedy were to be buried, including a couple who were due to get married next month. They were found in the rubble embracing each other. More than 160 people remain in hospital, including 16 who are in serious condition. On Saturday, the army called off a round-the-clock search for survivors, saying that all wedding guests and employees had been accounted for. Rescue workers and Israeli officials held a memorial service for the dead amid the rubble and twisted metal. Search BBC News Online Advanced search options BBC RADIO NEWSBBC ONE TV NEWSWORLD NEWS SUMMARY BBC NEWS 24 BULLETIN PROGRAMMES GUIDE Key stories How tragedy unfolded Disaster in pictures Cameraman's story Survivors' courage Scathing press attack AUDIO VIDEO Horrific footage of the floor giving way See also: 26 May 01�|�Middle East Wedding disaster search halted Internet links: Israeli Foreign Ministry Jerusalem Post Ha'aretz The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top Middle East stories now: US urges Arafat to stop attacks Wedding tragedy: Mayor under fire Iran MPs challenge political trials New unrest hits Berber region Muslim states freeze Israel contact Dozens injured in Israel match stampede Jailed 'Briton' lied about identity Analysis: Israel's tense airspace Links to more Middle East stories are at the foot of the page. Links to more Middle East stories ^^�Back to top News Front Page | World | UK | UK Politics | Business | Sci/Tech | Health | Education | Entertainment | Talking Point | In Depth | AudioVideo � ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To BBC Sport>> | To BBC Weather>> | To BBC Vote2001>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- News Sources
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