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Over 750,000 pilgrims arrive in S Arabia for Haj

RIYADH: More than 750,000 Muslims from around the world have arrived in Saudi Arabia to perform the annual Haj pilgrimage which starts in mid-March, newspapers reported on Sunday.

They quoted immigration officials as saying 687,672 pilgrims arrived by air, 52,144 by sea and 13,599 by land.

Every year, some two million pilgrims, half from abroad and the rest from Saudi Arabia, perform Haj.

Saudi officials have said the kingdom is taking all measures needed to ensure the safety of pilgrims at this year's Haj and to prevent a repeat of tragic fires and stampedes which have marred the pilgrimage in the past.-Reuters