Muslim Pilgrims Resume Hajj After Fatal Stampede

M E N A, Saudi Arabia, March 6 -- Nearly 2 million Muslim Hajj pilgrims threw pebbles at three pillars in a symbolic stoning of Satan today, a day after at least 35 worshippers died in a stampede while attempting to perform the same religious ritual.

Undeterred by the deaths of at least 35 people on Monday, pilgrims packed the mile-long Jamarat Bridge in Mena outside the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia and pelted the concrete pillars to chants of "In the name of God, God is greatest."

At least 35 people, including 23 women, were crushed todeath or suffocated on the bridge Monday, the first day of the devil-stoning ritual, as overzealous pilgrims tried to push their way through to the main pillar, a Saudi official said.

A Saudi source later said the death toll had risen to 38,but there was no official confirmation of this.

Egypt's state television today said two moreEgyptians were reported dead, raising to four the toll among the country's pilgrims.

Pakistani officials earlier said seven pilgrims fromPakistan had been killed in the stampede.

Saudi officials have not released the nationalities of thevictims, but Saudi sources said most of the dead and some of the injured were from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.

Egyptians, Algerians, Turks and Moroccans were also amongsome 170 pilgrims injured in the stampede. About 80 of themwere hospitalized, the sources said. Some were said to be in serious condition.

Elaborate Crowd Control

The stoning ritual went smoothly today under the watchfuleyes of hundreds of police as loudspeaker announcements ineight languages guided the pilgrims, who were given freechilled water in temperatures that reached 95 Fahrenheit.

Police formed human chains to limit the number of peoplegoing through to the pillars. Medical teams stood by andhelicopters hovered above.

Monday's accident appeared not to have dimmed theenthusiasm of the pilgrims.

"It was unfortunate what happened yesterday," saidAbdullah, from Egypt. "But accidents happen and let's hope it will not be repeated."