News

Two million begin hajj despite flu fears

November 26, 2009 Edition 1

MECCA: The world's largest annual religious pilgrimage began yesterday, overshadowed by the swine flu pandemic as 2.5 million Muslims massed at the holy city of Mecca for the hajj.

A rare rainstorm and possible banned protests by Iranian pilgrims also threatened to mar the four-day hajj, but Saudi officials said they were prepared for all eventualities. A sea of pilgrims from all over the world surrounded the Kaaba shrine inside Mecca's Grand Mosque for dawn prayers yesterday. Four pilgrims had died from A(H1N1) flu ahead of the official start of hajj rites. But proven and suspected infections from the flu amid hajj participants only numbered 67, the health ministry said. - Sapa-AFP