Saudi blamed for hajj debacle

Thousands of Iranian demonstrators marched in Tehran on Friday to condemn the "incompetency" of Saudi authorities in handling the stampede at the hajj pilgrimage. Iranian protesters carried banners and chanted "Death to Al-Saud family," referring to the royal family in Riyadh. Officials in Tehran said that 131 of the 719 killed were Iranians.

"I ask the Saudi Arabian government to take responsibility for this catastrophe and fulfill its legal and Islamic duties in this regard," Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said in a statement published by the state-run IRNA news agency. Rouhani was in New York to attend the UN General Assembly meeting.

Proof of negligence

Iran's deputy foreign minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, said that Riyadh's negligence was "inexcusable" and said his country was establishing a committee to look into the tragedy. Earlier, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini also condemned what he called "mismanagement" by Saudi officials in Mecca.

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki also said the incident was "proof of the incompetence of the organizers of the pilgrimage season." He said the event should be organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the world's largest Muslim organization, in future.

Meanwhile, several countries on Friday released lists of citizens killed in the stampede. Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo called for better crowd management after three of his country's citizens died on Thursday. At least 14 Indians, 14 Egyptians, seven Pakistanis and a Chinese citizen lost their lives in the tragedy. Over 850 people in all were being treated for injuries.

Pope sends condolences

Speaking in New York, Pope Francis expressed his "sentiments of closeness" with the victims' families. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also offered his heartfelt condolences to families of the dead pilgrims.

Saudi Arabia has announced an investigation into the disaster, the worst at the hajj since 1990, when 1,400 people were crushed to death. However, the country's authorities have blamed the stampede on some unruly pilgrims who did not follow the instructions to move in the crowd.

Around 2 million people from 180 countries are participating in the hajj this year. The pilgrimage is a main pillar of Islam to be undertaken by Muslims who are able at least once in their lifetimes.

On Friday, hundreds of thousands of devotees gathered at the site of the tragedy to perform the pebble-casting ritual in Mina, close to Mecca. The religious tour ends on Saturday when people will travel to the Kaaba, or the House of God in Mecca.

mg/msh (AP, Reuters)