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Saudi military on guard as 900,000 pilgrim arrive in Mecca

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Thursday, February 14, 2002

ABU DHABI Ñ Saudi Arabia's military has been recruited to ensure security for the estimated two million Muslims expected to arrive for the Haj pilgrimage.

Arab diplomatic sources said Saudi troops are patrolling Mecca and the highways to the city that gave birth to Islam. Mecca will host the pilgrims, more than 1 million of them who will come from abroad. More than 900,000 have already arrived in the kingdom.

The sources said the Saudi National Guard will help in the protection of more than 7,000 visiting members from the Saudi royal family and their guests. They will be housed in heavily-guarded facilities of the National Guard.

National Guard regional commander Prince Faisal Ibn Abdullah said the force has invested much of its resources in Haj security. He warned that his force was ready to confront any emergency during the pilgrimage.

Saudi authorities have bolstered security both inside the kingdom as well as at border points. Hundreds of people, including 81 from Egypt, have been deported on allegations of trying to reach Mecca on forged documents.

"There has been great concern that Arabs with forged documents aim to stir unrest in the kingdom," a Gulf source said. "In the case of the Egyptians, it appears that they were duped by criminals in Cairo who sold visas for thousands of dollars each."

Saudi officials said more than 50,000 permits have been issued to non-Saudis in the kingdom. Brig. Gen. Hasan Reshwan, a Saudi security official, said authorities have established road blocks and are examining permits of those seeking to enter Mecca.

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