Hajj Stampede: Iran’s Khamenei Calls For Saudi Apology

Iran’s supreme leader has called on Saudi Arabia to apologise for Thursday’s deadly stampede during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s remarks came after a speech by President Hassan Rouhani at the UN in which he called for an investigation.

Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of playing politics with a tragedy.

At least 769 people died in the crush, more than 140 of them from Iran.

It was the deadliest incident to hit the Hajj in 25 years.

The crush occurred on Thursday morning as two large groups of pilgrims converged at right angles as they took part in the Hajj’s last major rite – stone-throwing at pillars called Jamarat, where Satan is believed to have tempted the Prophet Abraham.

(BBC)