Millions of Muslims from around the world have flocked to the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca to mark the first day of Hajj, the largest pilgrimage in the world to the holiest site in Islam. The sheer number of pilgrims poses tremendous logistical and security challenges.
Al Jazeera’s Mohamed Vall, reporting from Mecca, takes a look at the Saudi government’s security preparations for the event.

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More than a million Muslims have been arriving in Saudi Arabia’s sacred city of Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

A brief report from Euronews.

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For more visit the SUSRIS Special Section – Hajj 1432/2011 (Link Here)

The Saudi city of Mecca is home to some of the most important historical sites in Islam. But over the years, the kingdom has been systematically demolishing these sites, burying them under modern commercial towers. Saudi authorities say this is a policy aimed at discouraging the worship of idols, as it prevents people from turning those places into shrines. However, many Muslims say the government is destroying Islamic heritage sites. Al Jazeera’s Mohamed Vall reports on the eve of the Hajj pilgrimage from the mountain of light in Mecca, one of the few historical sites still open to the public. [Al Jazeera English]

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BBC video report by Peter Biles on the passing of Crown Prince Sultan, who died in a New York hospital according to an official announcement early on October 22, 2011.

Check the SUSRIS Special Section – “Transitions” for more information.

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CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO

The Saudi Embassy in Washington reacted to yesterday’s announcement by the US Government of a plot to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador by stating, “”The attempted plot is a despicable violation of international norms, standards and conventions and is not in accord with the principles of humanity.” Today Prince Turki Al-Faisal commented on the plot while at a conference in London. The video of his statement is at the link.

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Link to the video – Click Here

A report on PBS NewsHour: “Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday that Iran is behind a terror plot in the U.S. that targeted Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Washington and possibly two embassies. Jeffrey Brown discusses the alleged scheme and the Iranian political landscape with The New York Times’ Charles Savage and Stanford University’s Abbas Milani.”

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Analysts at the Middle East Policy Council’s 66th Capitol Hill Conference on Oct 7, 2011, titled “A Reawakened Rivalry? The GCC v. Iran” addressed the dynamics of the relationships between GCC states (Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain) and Iran in the context of recent political upheavals in the broader Middle East.

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CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO

AlJazeera reports on relations between Saudi Arabia and Yemen with respect to the unrest in Yemen and President Saleh’s medical treatment in Riyadh:

“Ali Abdullah Saleh, the Yemeni president, has returned to his country after receiving medical treatment in Saudi Arabia. Some experts say that Saleh’s stay in the Kingdom highlights the close relationship between the two countries. It also raises questions about Saudi Arabia’s role in Yemen’s political future. Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Vall reports from the Saudi capital of Riyadh.”

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King Abdullah announced major reforms in women’s rights in the Kingdom in a speech to the Consultative Council on September 25, 2011. Emily Buchanan reports for the BBC.

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King Abdullah announced major reforms in women’s rights in the Kingdom in a speech to the Consultative Council on September 25, 2011. CNN’s Mohammed Jamjoon reports on the developments.

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