Tunisian FM condoles with Saudi counterpart for stampede victims

Tunisian Foreign Minister Taieb Baccouche on Friday sent a cable of condolences to his Saudi counterpart Adel al Jubeir for the death of hundreds of pilgrims in a stampede in the tent city of Mina on Thursday.

In the cable, Baccouche prayed to Allah to have mercy on the dead pilgrims and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

More than 700 pilgrims died and more than 800 were injured in Thursday's stampede in the tent city of Mina.

According to the Saudi Civil Defense Service, the crush took place at 7:30 a.m. on Street 204 of Mina, where pilgrims stone three pillars symbolizing the devil.

Hajj is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. It is one of the five pillars of Islam and a religious duty that must be carried out by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so at least once in their lifetime.

Source: MENA