This should make you 'dance..' a lot of lunatics do a lot of insane things;;; your fixation with Bush resonates closely with these Islamist zealots..
Hajj pilgrims pelted stones at symbols of the devil on Friday, and many said they were targeting U.S. President George W. Bush and other world leaders seen as oppressing Muslims.
Last year, 250 people were crushed to death in a stampede at Mena's Jamarat Bridge, but so far new measures by the Saudi authorities have averted any repeat. This year, more than 2.5 million Muslims streamed into the area for the stoning, meant as an act of purification and rejection of temptation.
Saudi Arabia's King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah urged Muslims to shun terrorism which they said meant "warring against God and his Prophet". Muslims should follow Islam's teachings of moderation and forgiveness and unite, they said in a statement.
Many pilgrims said they were thinking of Bush and his allies while they were hurling pebbles at the site where the devil is said to have appeared to the biblical patriarch Abraham.
"Yes, the devil is Bush and that other one from Israel -- (Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon. And there's (British Prime Minister) Blair too," said Egyptian Tia'amah Mohammed.
"We throw the stones so we can vent our anger at them."
Many Muslims revile Bush for his perceived bias towards Israel and the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Anger at Sharon runs deep over Israel's occupation of Palestinian land and Jerusalem, the site of one of Islam's holiest shrines.
British journalist Yvonne Ridley, who converted to Islam after her capture by the Taliban in 2001 in the build-up to the Afghan war, said: "During the stoning I couldn't help thinking of Bush, Blair and Sharon."
Other pilgrims said politics did not cross their minds. "This is all about God, and that's all I was thinking about when I threw the stones," Yemeni Ali al-Suweiny said.
In Washington, Bush issued a statement sending his greetings to Muslims round the world marking the Eid al-Adha feast.
"The kindness and charity practised by Muslims during this holiday strengthen friendships, help those in need, and exemplify the compassionate spirit that makes America and the world a better place," said Bush.
Saudi Arabia has revamped the Jamarat area, expanding the stoning targets and deploying thousands of security forces to control the crowd. |
