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Iran demands Saudi apology
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Iran demanded an apology from Saudi Arabia yesterday over the deaths of 769 people at the hajj pilgrimage and accused it of trying to evade blame, while Riyadh in turn accused Tehran of playing politics with the disaster.
At least 155 Iranian pilgrims died in the crush of pilgrims on Thursday near Mecca and 300 other Iranians remain unaccounted for. Iranian officials say that, three days after the incident, they suspect most of the missing are dead too.
Iran鈥檚 Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Muslim countries should demand Saudi Arabia be held to account for the deaths. The kingdom presents itself as the guardian of Islamic orthodoxy and custodian of its holiest places in Mecca and Medina.
鈥淚nstead of blaming this and that, the Saudis should accept the responsibility and apologize to the Muslims and the victims鈥 families,鈥 Khamenei was quoted as saying on his own website.
鈥淭he Islamic world has a lot of questions. The death of more than 1,000 people is not a small issue. Muslim countries should focus on this,鈥 Khamenei said.
Other Iranian officials have also alleged the total death toll is more than 1,000. Khamenei ordered the bodies of the Iranian victims to be buried in martyrs鈥 cemeteries.
Iranians MPs blamed Saudi Arabia for 鈥渢heir mismanagement and incompetence.鈥
鈥淭he Iranian government should follow up this case in Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and ask for shared management of the holy sites in Mecca and Medina during haj,鈥 lawmakers said in a statement published by Fars news agency.
Dozens of protesters gathered in front of the Saudi embassy in Tehran, chanting 鈥渄own with the United States and Saudi Arabia.鈥 They were watched by police.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir accused Iran of exploiting the tragedy.
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