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Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah. (Reuters) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 23:40 19/12/2007 Saudi king invites Iranian President Ahmadinejad to Mecca for hajj By Reuters Tags: Saudi Arabia, Mecca, Iran  The king of U.S. ally Saudi Arabia has invited Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to attend this year's hajj pilgrimage in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Iranian media reported on Wednesday. The invitation marks the first time an Iranian president was officially invited to take part in the annual pilgrimage, starting later this month, Iran's official IRNA news agency said. Like other Gulf Arab states, Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia has long been wary of its large Shi'ite Muslim neighbor and shares Western concerns about Tehran's nuclear ambitions. Advertisement "Saudi King Abdullah has formally invited President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to take part in this year's hajj ceremony," Iran's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mohammad Hosseini, was quoted as saying by state television. The five-day ritual is expected to begin on Dec. 18. On Tuesday, Ahmadinejad said he would take part in the hajj if formally invited. Last week he became the first Iranian president to attend a summit of Saudi Arabia and five other Gulf Arab states. It was not clear whether the 51-year-old had attended the hajj before. A duty for every Muslim at least once in a lifetime, the grueling ritual is one of the world's biggest displays of mass religious devotion and is held under tight security. At least 1.5 million people are expected to arrive from abroad in Mecca, where pilgrims follow a route around the mountains in line with a tradition established by the Prophet Mohammed. In 1987, more than 400 people, mostly Iranians, died in clashes with Saudi security forces at an anti-U.S. and anti-Israel rally in Mecca. Related articles: Saudis propose Mideast consortium to defuse Iran nuke issue ANALYSIS / Fear of Iran brought Arab leaders to Annapolis meet Report: Saudi study says Iran creating Shi'ite 'state within state' in Iraq Israel agrees to let 900 Gazans enter en route to Hajj in Mecca Bookmark to del.icio.us Blast from the past The donkey is making a comeback as the prevalent form of transportation in Gaza. U.S. anti-Semitism The ZOA condemns the U.S. government for failing to protect Jewish students.   1.   DIDN`T SAUDIS at one Haj decapitate many Iranian brothers 08:57  |  PETER SM 20/12/07   2.   Dear Saudi King Abdullah 18:23  |  Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 20/12/07   3.   King owe him 19:45  |  Matt 20/12/07   4.   Lovers 20:01  |  Mohammad 20/12/07   5.   Sheesh 21:29  |  Adam 20/12/07   6.   Wahhabhists and Ayatollahists in Cahoots 23:30  |  Brod 20/12/07   7.   Adam, an advise for you 00:59  |  Mohammad 21/12/07   8.   Nr 7-Educate and shut up? 19:29  |  cristo 21/12/07

Today Online Rosner: Reform prayer services - hijacked by spoiled Bar Mitzvah families Responses: 9 Attempt to exchange messages between Israel and Syria fails Responses: 33 U.S. envoy: Peace education is the only way to end this conflict Responses: 49 Ramon: 70 MKs support settler compensation plan Responses: 61 Two IDF troops lightly hurt; Israel sets terms for truce Responses: 140 Rosner's Domain Romney to Evangelicals, like Messianic Jews to Jews (What to Read) Hijacked by the demanding, spoiled Bar Mitzvah families Rosner's Guest: deNazify the Palestinian culture New poll: A cease-fire with Hamas - good or bad idea? More Headlines 17:22 Two IDF troops lightly hurt as Israel mulls truce offer 12:52 Ramon: 70 MKs support paying settlers to evacuate voluntarily 18:27 President Peres apologizes for Kafr Qasem massacre of 1956 07:16 Attempt to exchange messages between Israel and Syria fails 17:35 A changing Reform movement attempts to resurrect Shabbat 19:28 Rice: U.S. is open to talking with Iran, Syria if they change their policies 15:52 Hezbollah: U.S. proposal on presidential crisis threat to stability 16:19 Rice welcomes Israeli decision to nix building plan in East J'lem 10:28 Outgoing senior FM official calls for military pact with Washington 03:59 ANALYSIS: Is a truce between Israel and Hamas possible? Previous Editions Select Day 20 dec 19 dec 18 dec 17 dec 16 dec 14 dec 13 dec 12 dec 11 dec 10 dec 09 dec 07 dec

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