Saudi Arabia's most senior cleric, the grand mufti, has said the stampede at the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca on Thursday was beyond human control.

He told the interior minister, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, that he was not to blame for the tragedy.

Iran and several other countries have criticised Saudi authorities for the way they handled safety issues.

Authorities have raised the number of deaths to 769 - the deadliest incident to occur during the Hajj in 25 years.

King Salman has ordered a safety review into the disaster, which injured 934 people, new casualty figures suggest.

The pilgrimage, or Hajj, is now into its final day, with no further serious incidents reported.

Source: bbc.com

** Deaths beyond human control: Saudi mufti

BDST: 2135 HRS, SEP 26, 2015
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