THOUSANDS of Muslim pilgrims massed in a valley near the Saudi holy city of Mina yesterday for the stoning of Satan, the last and most dangerous rite of the annual hajj.

Palestinian militants attacked the Gaza Strip’s main cargo crossing with mortar fire early today, slightly wounding an Israeli truck driver in the latest flare-up of violence in the coastal strip.

NEARLY 250 Muslim worshipers died in a hajj stampede yesterday during the annual stoning of Satan ritual in one of the deadliest tragedies at the notoriously perilous ceremony.

A stampede during a stoning ritual at the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca killed 244 worshippers, a Saudi Hajj Ministry official said today.

Turkish police have arrested number of men who are suspected of involvement in the deadly suicide bombings on the British consulate and a London-based bank that were blamed on al-Qaida.

A survivor of the Egypt rail tragedy who jumped from the burning train has spoken of his escape.

At least 342 people died today when an overcrowded Egyptian train caught fire and carried on speeding down the line.

At least 100 people have died in a fire on a passenger train crowded with Egyptians leaving Cairo for a holiday.