http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=124288&version=1&template_id=37&parent_id=17
Saudi readies for Haj with safety measures Published: Monday, 25 December, 2006, 09:37 AM Doha Time RIYADH: Over 2mn Muslims begin the Haj in Saudi Arabia this week amid tight security and increased safety measures. A duty for every able-bodied Muslim at least once in a lifetime, the five-day ritual beginning on Thursday is one of the world's biggest displays of mass religious devotion. Pilgrims converge on the Grand Mosque in Makkah and follow a route around the rocky mountains of the ancient city in line with a tradition established by Prophet Muhammad. Overcrowding is a perennial worry but this time, regional tension has heightened security concerns while authorities remain on the lookout for Al Qaeda-linked militant violence. "We have been prepared to deal with the worst, may God forbid it, including things that can be deadlier than sectarian violence ... stampedes or building collapses," said a senior police officer in Makkah. The Haj takes place in the shadow of violence that has taken Iraq to the brink of civil war this year. Tension is also high in Lebanon. Iranian and other pilgrims have used the Haj for political protests in the past. "There is enough violence and bloodshed on the news about Muslims. Shame on those who provoke or get involved in more violence against fellow Muslims and spoil the Haj for themselves and others," said Iranian teacher Ahmed Nasifi, in Makkah for Haj. The interior ministry is expected to deploy over 50,000 men in the Makkah area to combat potential militants, demonstrators and disorderly behaviour that could lead to overcrowding. Al Qaeda militants launched a violent campaign in the country in 2003. Saudi Arabia said earlier this month it had detained 136 foreign and Saudi militants, some posing as pilgrims, who were planning a series of suicide bombings and assassinations around the desert country of 24mn people. In January, 362 pilgrims died in overcrowding at the Jamarat Bridge on the last day. That followed the death of 76 people when a hotel collapsed in Makkah before the rites began. The 2005 death toll was the worst since 1990 when 1,426 people were killed in a stampede in a tunnel in Makkah. The authorities say rigorous checks have been put in place in Makkah's hotels to avoid a repeat of the last tragedy. The bridge at Mina has been revamped with a more elaborate bridge involving a four-level system of entrances and exits to three ways where pilgrims symbolically stone Satan. Saudi Arabia usually hosts some 1.5mn pilgrims from abroad, and grants visas to 500,000 inside the kingdom, but the number often swells to 2.5mn as people sneak in illegally. - Reuters +++ -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: osint@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
