Millions of Muslims from around the world gathered in Mecca on Sunday for the start of the annual hajj, or Islamic pilgrimage, as the Saudi Interior Ministry announced tough security precautions.
Men and women draped in white robes circled the Kaaba, Islam's most holy site, seven times in the Umra ceremony anticipating the official start of the pilgrimage on Monday.
People walk in the streets as they leave the Grand Mosque in Mecca after attending noon prayers on Sunday.
(Hasan Sarbakhshian/Associated Press)
Over the next two days, an expected 2.5 million pilgrims will move out of Mecca to Mount Arafat and for Tuesday's climax of symbolically stoning the devil.
This year's hajj takes place amid increasing worries across the Islamic world — over the bloodshed in Iraq and Afghanistan and recent attacks by al-Qaeda-linked groups including last week's twin suicide bombings in Algeria that killed at least 37 people.
Tensions also have increased between the two main sects of Islam, Sunnis and Shias, who come together in the five days of hajj rituals centred around Mecca, birthplace of Islam's founder, the Prophet Muhammad.
Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz said the kingdom is capable of maintaining security and preventing any attempt to threaten the safety of the pilgrims.
"We will not allow for the problems in other countries to be reflected here during this hajj season," he said Saturday.
Maj.-Gen. Saleh Mohammed al-Shihri, commander of the Central Control of the Hajj Security, said 1,150 cameras have been placed in several areas to monitor the area. Several helicopters, fitted with these cameras, will also hover over the pilgrims.
More than 1.6 million pilgrims have arrived in Mecca, according to the latest numbers released Friday. The Health Ministry said about 254 pilgrims, many who were elderly, have died of natural causes since arriving.
The pilgrims are massed in tent cities on the outskirts of Mecca.
Every able-bodied adult Muslim who can afford it is required to perform the hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, at least once in their lives. Many save for years and travel thousands of miles to make the pilgrimage.
King Abdullah has invited 1,000 guests to this year's hajj, including Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The Saudi interior minister said no extra security precautions will be put in place for Ahmadinejad. The president was scheduled to arrive in Mecca on Monday, Iranian state media has reported.
Saudi Arabia, a majority Sunni Muslim country, and other Gulf Arab countries — who are all U.S. allies — have been worried over the increasing regional influence of Shia-dominated Iran.
But the invitation appeared to reflect a readiness from Saudi Arabia to reach out to its neighbour. It comes about a week after a U.S. intelligence report said Iran had ended a nuclear weapons program four years ago.
More World Headlines »
- Obama, Huckabee win Iowa caucuses
- Democratic Illinois Senator Barack Obama and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee have been declared the winners of their presidential caucuses in Iowa, the first test in the race for the White House.
- Kenyan protesters set to march again Friday
- Kenya's opposition party said it will try again Friday to hold a banned anti-government rally in the country's capital, after hundreds of protesters at Thursday's planned march were met with tear gas and water cannons.
- Musharraf not 'fully satisfied' with Pakistani probe of Bhutto's death
- Pervez Musharraf denied accusations the military or intelligence services were involved in the killing of Benazir Bhutto, but said he was not satisfied with Pakistan's probe into her death.
- At least 9 Palestinians reported killed as Israeli troops enter Gaza
- Israeli troops and air strikes killed at least nine Palestinians on Thursday, including three civilians, according to witnesses and Palestinian medics, in an operation the Israeli military said was aimed at curbing rocket attacks from the southern Gaza Strip.
- DNA evidence frees Texas man jailed 26 years for rape
- A Texas man who spent 26 years in jail for raping his neighbour was released from a Dallas prison on Thursday after a DNA test cleared his name.
World Features
Blog Watch
Most Blogged about CBC.ca Articles
Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - link will open in new window