Dr Zaki Badawi, Dean of London's Muslim College: "That valley has always been a death-trap."

Saudi authorities are continuing to try to identify the victims of a stampede on the last official day of the Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca.

Meanwhile, over a million foreign pilgrims have begun leaving the country.

The pilgrims died when the parapet of a bridge collapsed in Mina, a town near the holy city. The confirmed number of deaths is 118, but unofficial reports put the number as high as 150.

The Indian government said at least 24 of its nationals were killed. Six Pakistanis, two Indonesians and three Moroccans were also reported to be among the dead.

The Algerian Foreign Ministry said seven Algerians were killed, including five women from the south-western Bechar province.

India's government expresses "deep grief"

The stampede occurred as thousands of pilgrims were waiting to cross the bridge so they could take part in the "Stoning of Satan" ritual where they throw pebbles at pillars representing the devil.

A security camera shows pilgrims falling in the crush

Saudi authorities have built two overpasses to increase the number of pilgrims who can take part at any time. Each nationality takes its turn, and Hajj organisers said when Indonesian and Malaysian pilgrims were allowed onto the bridge there was a rush and the parapet collapsed.

Some of the victims fell over the edge, others were trampled to death. "The victims fell one on top of another," said an Egyptian witness Mohammed Metwali. "The screams of the wounded were mixed with those of the crowds on the bridge and on the ground."

A picture from Saudi TV showing thousands of people streaming over the bridge

The Saudi news agency said security forces made "extraordinary efforts" to save the pilgrims but were overcome by the size of the crowd.

The incident is the latest tragedy to strike the Hajj. Last year, more than 340 people were killed as fire swept through a tented camps in Mina; and in 1994, 270 worshippers died in another stampede.

"Saudi authorities will have to restrict numbers" - BBC correspondent Frank Gardner in Dubai

About two million Muslims from 100 countries have taken part in the pilgrimage this year. However all the pilgrims have been warned by the Saudi authorities that they must leave the country by Friday when their visas expire or they will be arrested as illegal immigrants.
 

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