Pilgrims pour into Mina camp:

Hajj begins in Mecca

SAUDI ARABIA : The world's largest annual pilgrimage, the Hajj, began Sunday with more than two million Muslims pouring into the camp at Mina from Mecca to prepare for the solemn rituals. Some estimates put the number of pilgrims this year at 2.5 million, Pilgrims were still flooding Sunday night into the vast plain of Mina outside a small village about five kilometres east of Mecca, using all possible means to begin their hajj journey.

Permits were granted to 1.7 million foreign pilgrims, but the head of the Hajj Supreme Committee, Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, Sunday put the number of foreign pilgrims at a record 1.8 million.

A further 200,000 permits were issued to pilgrims from within Saudi Arabia and from neighbouring Gulf states.

An Interior Ministry official said definite numbers will not be announced until Tuesday, the first day of Eid Al-Adha or the Feast of the Sacrifice.

This year has seen a crackdown on those without the requisite papers as the authorities try to prevent numbers from getting out of hand.

A driver caught transporting unauthorised pilgrims faces a fine of 10,000 riyals (2,667 dollars) for each one.

But the "No permit, no Hajj" rule appeared to be widely flouted Sunday as unauthorized pilgrims converged on Mina from across Saudi Arabia.

"We came from Riyadh," said a Palestinian after being dropped off with two companions at a junction leading to Mina and Arafat, as others arrived in pick-ups, taxis and small buses.

"We skirted the checkpoints by getting out of the car and walking across," he said without revealing his name, pointing out that once past the highway's main police checkpoints, getting to the sites is easy.

Buses, choked with both people and luggage inside, carried yet more on their roofs. Tens of thousands of illegal pilgrims sat on the pavements, many with tents.

"We don't have permits," said Ramadan Ismael, an Egyptian in his mid-50s who also came from Riyadh. He said a policeman let his group of 14 through even though they told him: "We have no permits." Meanwhile, pilgrims in licensed groups sat comfortably in their enclosed and well-equipped camps. The passage to Mina marks the official launch of the hajj on the eighth day of the Muslim calendar month of Dhul Hijja.

The day is known as Tarwiah (Watering) as pilgrims in the past stopped at Mina to water their animals and stock up for the trip to Mount Arafat.

At Mount Arafat, some 10 kilometres (six miles) southeast of Mina, the day is spent in prayer and reflection.

Mina, Monday, AFP