JEDDAH, 7 January 2007 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah yesterday commended the role played by Saudi security forces in making this year’s Haj a resounding success.
“We appreciate the efforts of security forces in ensuring the safety and security of more than 2.54 million pilgrims who performed Haj this year,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted the king as saying.
King Abdullah made this comment while replying to a message from Interior Minister and Chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee Prince Naif, who had informed the king that 2,540,436 pilgrims performed Haj this year.
Security officers successfully carried out the Haj plan despite the tense regional and international situations, he added.
Prince Naif said the establishment of the new Jamrat Bridge, the dispatch of pilgrims in groups to Jamrat and the introduction of a new force to control pedestrian movement in the streets of the holy sites had contributed to the successful organization of Haj.
Also yesterday, King Abdullah issued a Royal Decree promoting Lt. Gen. Abdul Rahman ibn Ali Al-Robaiaan to the rank of a general.
