RIYADH, 17 December 2006 — Prince Muhammad ibn Naif, assistant interior minister for security affairs, ordered to host 42 members of the families of police officers that died in clashes with terrorist groups in the past three years. The Interior Ministry will sign a contract with the local Haj institutions to provide the members of the families with accommodation and transportation to perform Haj. The Interior Ministry has been sending families of officers who died in the line of duty, and who are considered martyrs, to Haj at their expense in the past three years.
Pilgrims Cleared From Unsafe Accommodations
MADINAH, 17 December 2006 — Prince Abdul Aziz ibn Majed, Madinah governor, ordered the evacuation of nine buildings that were accommodating pilgrims because the buildings were not considered safe. These buildings accommodate more than 1,300 pilgrims. The governor apologized to the pilgrims, but said that he considers their health and safety his top priority. The evacuation decision came during an inspection trip by the prince to pilgrim’s sites. The Haj committees carried out the decision and evacuated the nine buildings immediately. Pilgrims were transferred to new location with cleaner rooms and better safety standards.
Easy Border Crossing for Iraqi Pilgrims
TAYMA, 17 December 2006 — Four Makkah-bound buses carrying Iraqi pilgrims arrived in Tayma province in the north of Saudi Arabia, Al-Watan reported yesterday. More than 38 trucks are expected to arrive soon coming from Al-Diwaniya province in Iraq. The head of the Iraqi pilgrims campaign, Muhammad Al-Salehi, said that they did not face any trouble coming to Saudi Arabia and that the procedures to enter the Kingdom were easy.
