More hurt in crushes at Mecca pilgrimage

There have been further injuries today at the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca a day after 244 people were crushed to death.

There have been further injuries today at the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca a day after 244 people were crushed to death.

Ambulances took away a number of pilgrims overcome by the latest crush but no deaths were have been reported.

Most of those killed in yesterday's stampeded on the plains of Mina, Saudi Arabia, were from Indonesia and Pakistan.  It was the worst tragedy in seven years at the annual Muslim Hajj pilgrimage, which is often marred by deadly fires, stampedes and riots.

Fifty-four Indonesians and 36 Pakistanis were among the dead, in addition to about a dozen citizens from Turkey, Egypt, Algeria, India and Bangladesh, according Saudi press reports.

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The crowd got out of control as people moved along a wide ramp leading to the "stoning of the devil" ritual - where pilgrims throw pebbles at three stone pillars, symbolising their contempt for the devil.

AP