1 Million Mecca Pilgrims Worship Peacefully, Saudis Say

A million pilgrims from throughout the Muslim world peacefully circled Islam’s holiest shrine in Mecca on Friday as the annual hajj neared its climax.

Saudi officials said there were no incidents as hundreds of thousands of white-robed pilgrims moved in a flowing mass around the Kaaba, the shrine at the heart of Mecca’s Grand Mosque.

However, Tehran Radio reported that hundreds of pilgrims carrying placards condemning the deaths of 402 people in clashes during last year’s hajj demonstrated in Mecca on Friday and that some of them were attacked by police.

Saudi officials denied the report early today and described the Tehran report as “lies and fabrication.”

Unprecedented security has marked this year’s hajj. Tehran has officially boycotted this year’s pilgrimage to protest Saudi restrictions that would have cut the number of Iranian pilgrims to 45,000 from 150,000.

But Saudi officials have reported that a few Iranians in fact arrived for the hajj, a duty that every able Muslim must perform at least once in his lifetime.

Saudi Arabia said the restrictions applied to all countries and were meant to relieve congestion while work is under way to expand facilities for the pilgrims.

Officials estimate this will cut the total to about 1.5 million people this year, including last-minute arrivals expected today.

Pilgrims were prepared for today’s prayers at nearby Mt. Arafat, the site of the Prophet Mohammed’s last sermon, which will climax hajj activities here.