Fisticuffs break out between Priests in the Holy Land

JERUSALEM -- Dozens of Greek and Armenian priests and worshippers exchanged blows at one of Christianity's holiest shrines on Orthodox Palm Sunday.

Witnesses say the brawl erupted when Armenian clergy kicked out a Greek priest from their midst, pushed him to the ground and kicked him.

When police intervened, some worshippers hit them with the palm fronds they were holding for the religious holiday.

The Eastern Orthodox churches, including the Armenians and Greek Orthodox, follow a different calendar from western Christians and celebrate Easter next Sunday.

Yesterday's brawl came amid growing rivalry over religious rights at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.