SAUDI ARABIA - Hundreds killed in Hajj stampede

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Thursday, 12 January

2006, 17:21 GMT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hundreds

killed in Hajj stampede

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At

least 345 Muslim pilgrims have died in a crush during the stone-throwing

ritual at the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, officials say.

Hundreds of pilgrims have also been injured. A BBC correspondent

at the scene in Mina saw dozens of bodies lined up on the ground.

The ritual has seen many lethal stampedes but the number of dead

this time is the highest in 16 years.

After a crush in 2004, barriers and stewards were added to

improve safety.

Bridge surge

The stampede took place

at the foot of the bridge of Jamarat, where

pilgrims hurl stones at three pillars representing the spot where the devil

is said to have appeared to Abraham.

An interior ministry spokesman, Maj Gen

Mansour al-Turki, told the Associated Press news agency the crush happened

after pieces of luggage spilled from moving buses in front of one of the

entrances to the bridge, causing pilgrims to trip.

At least 289 people were injured, according to the Saudi Health

Minister Hamad bin Abdullah al-Maneh.

With the local hospital in Mina

overflowing, many victims of the crush were transported to medical facilities

in Mecca and Riyadh, a doctor told

AP.

Many of the victims were reportedly from south and south-east Asia.

More than two million people were thought to have been

performing the rite at the time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4606002.stm

 

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Jorge Angelino

 

 

Rua da Sociedade Filarmónica

Perpétua Azeitonense, 29

2925-598 Azeitão

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