TUNIS, 8 February 2003 — The Haj offers a good opportunity for Muslims to show the world the spiritual and humanitarian nature of Islam, says Information Minister Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy. In an interview with Tunisian Al-Hurriyya newspaper, he said all Muslims should cooperate to make the annual event a success.
8 elderly pilgrims die
JEDDAH, 8 February 2003 — Eight elderly Southeast Asian pilgrims have died following their arrival at King Abdul Aziz Airport in the past one month, Dr. Mohammed Al-Faran, medical supervisor of the clinic at the airport’s Haj terminal, told Okaz. The clinic provided treatment to more than 86,000 pilgrims, mostly the old, during the same period.
Firefighting plan
JEDDAH, 8 February 2003 — The Civil Defense Department will for the first time use large fans to blow smoke from tunnels in Makkah and Mina in case of fire during the height of the Haj season, according to Maj. Gen. Abdul Rahman Al-Badi, commander of the department’s Haj forces. “Experiments have shown that the fans are highly effective,” he told Okaz. The department will operate 195 fire-fighting centers at the holy sites of Makkah, Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifa.
Press briefings
MINA, 8 February 2003 — The Interior Ministry will hold a daily press conference during Haj at its headquarters here from today. (AN)
