2000 PILGRIMS OF THE EX-URSS CANNOT REACH THE MECQUE








Abu Dhabi, March 2.  (Corr. Ria " Novosti " Igor Kouznetsov).
Approximately 2000 Moslem pilgrims of Russia and other old Soviet
republics are in this moment in the neutral zone, has the border
between Saudi Arabia and Iraq.  The reason is that some of them do not
have visas of entree, whereas those which have some do not leave for
Mecque by solidarity.  The autorites saoudiennes give them have to eat
and have to drink and pretent also a medical care where necessary.

These pilgrims went has Mecque in the bus or the cars, while passing
by the territories azerbaidjanais, Iranian and Iraqi.  It appears that
they can re-enter bredouilles.

Meanwhile, more than 1 800 Moslems of Russia are already have Mecque
or have Medine or they make the prayers.