Hundreds Killed in Hajj Stampede
At least 345 Muslim pilgrims have been killed in a crush in the stone-throwing ritual during the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, officials say.Hundreds of people have also been wounded. A
BBC correspondent at the scene in Mina saw dozens of bodies lined up on the ground.
The ritual has been marred by deadly stampedes in the past.
After a crush in 2004, the authorities built barriers and deployed thousands of stewards in a bid to improve safety.
Bridge surgeThe 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.
View the safety changes made to the Jamarat Bridge after the previous fatal stampede.
An interior ministry spokesman, Maj Gen Mansour al-Turki, told the Associated Press news agency that the stampede happened after pieces of luggage spilled from moving buses in front of one of the entrances to the bridge, causing pilgrims to trip.
More than two million people were thought to be performing the rite at the time.
Witness Abdullah Pulig, an Indian street-cleaner, described a scene of carnage.
"I saw people moving and suddenly I heard crying, shouting, wailing. I looked around and people were piling on each other. They started pulling dead people from the crowd," he told the Associated Press news agency.
Ambulances and police cars streamed into the area, as security forces tried to move people away from the scene of the accident.
The pilgrims were returning via Mina after performing the Tawaf al-Wada, a farewell ceremony that involves walking around the Kaaba - a cube-like building in the centre of Mecca's Great Mosque - seven times.
The Tawaf al-Wada is performed after the Hajj has finished.
The stoning is the riskiest ritual of the Hajj, as worshippers jostle to try to target the stones, often causing weaker pilgrims to fall under foot.
In 2004, more than 200 pilgrims were trampled to death while performing the same ceremony.
The latest deadly stampede come days after more than 70 people died when a hostel for pilgrims collapsed in the Saudi city of Mecca.
The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and every able-bodied adult Muslim is obliged to perform it at least once in their lives.
We Can Challenge For Title Glory
Steven Gerrard believes Liverpool are ready to emerge as Chelsea's main rivals for Premiership glory.
The Reds are currently in third place in the league table and still 17 points behind Jose Mourinho's men, but the skipper has seen enough during the first half of this season to convince him Liverpool are finally ready to make a genuine challenge for top spot in the English game.
"We are getting good results against the top sides and not slipping up against the smaller ones. It is fair to say that we are emerging as challengers for the title," he said.
"There is still a big gap to reduce but as the season goes on and we keep getting the results, our confidence will get bigger and bigger.
"We have shown that there is very little between us and Chelsea. With more consistency of performance in all the games I reckon we are in a good position to challenge them.
"There have been times that Liverpool have looked ready to make the step and really get into the title race, but haven't really done so. Now we look better equipped."
Agger's Delight At Anfield Move
New Liverpool signing
Daniel Agger today spoke of his delight at finally completing his transfer from Brondby and admitted he can't wait to pull on the famous red shirt for the first time.
The 21-year Dane trained with his new team-mates for the first time at Melwood this morning before speaking exclusively to Liverpoolfc.tv about his move.
"It's perfect," he says. "Moving to one of the world's biggest clubs is just amazing. Despite reported interested from other clubs Liverpool was always my number choice. It's a great club and I did not need much persuading to sign for them.
"I know and have heard a lot of great things about Liverpool but the fact they won the Champions League last season is all I needed to know. I know about the players, the coach and the fans.
"I'm settling in well so far. The training ground is great - I've never seen anything like it. I've not yet been on the Anfield pitch but I know all about the famous Anfield atmosphere and the Kop."
"It's all really exciting. I am looking forward to my career here and I can't wait to play."
Despite being described as the best defender to come from Denmark in 20 years, Agger acknowledges that he faces a tough task dislodging either
Jamie Carragher or
Sami Hyypia from the heart of the Liverpool defence but insists it's a challenge he will relish and one that he can benefit from.
"I met them this morning and they seem like very nice guys. I have a lot of respect for Jamie and Sami, they are great players but I am ready to fight for my place," he adds.
"Of course there are a lot of areas of my game that I can improve on and I hope by being here at Liverpool I can learn from the many talented players I now have around me.
"I have not played for three months so I need to build up my physical strength and it's up to the coach when I will play."
STEVIE: WE CAN CHALLENGE FOR TITLE GLORY
Steven Gerrard believes Liverpool are ready to emerge as Chelsea's main rivals for Premiership glory.
The Reds are currently in third place in the league table and still 17 points behind Jose Mourinho's men, but the skipper has seen enough during the first half of this season to convince him Liverpool are finally ready to make a genuine challenge for top spot in the English game.
"We are getting good results against the top sides and not slipping up against the smaller ones. It is fair to say that we are emerging as challengers for the title," he said.
"There is still a big gap to reduce but as the season goes on and we keep getting the results, our confidence will get bigger and bigger.
"We have shown that there is very little between us and Chelsea. With more consistency of performance in all the games I reckon we are in a good position to challenge them.
"There have been times that Liverpool have looked ready to make the step and really get into the title race, but haven't really done so. Now we look better equipped."
