Spiritual rite transformed into tragedy: 244 trampled

At least 244 pilgrims who slipped and fell during a hajj ritual were trampled to death in the crush of people throwing pebbles yesterday at stone pillars symbolizing the devil, according to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

"This morning, intense shoving among pilgrims as they were throwing the pebbles led to some pilgrims falling, which resulted in the death of some of them," SPA quoted an unidentified Interior Ministry official as saying. It did not say how many died.

The official said security forces and medical units began rescue operations, "which resulted in containing the pushing toward the pillar to prevent more pilgrims from falling."

He did not provide further details.

The devil-stoning is the hajj's most animated ritual and possibly most dangerous as many pilgrims frantically throw rocks, shout insults or hurl their plastic flip-flop sandals or shoes at the pillars -- acts that are supposed to demonstrate their deep disdain for the devil.

Clerics frown upon such action and say it's un-Islamic.

Last year, 14 pilgrims were trampled to death during the ritual and 35 died in a 2001 stampede.

In 1998, nearly 180 pilgrims died there.