Death toll rises to 717 in Mecca

The head of the Central Hajj Committee, Prince Khaled al Faisal, has blamed the stampede in Mecca today on "some pilgrims from African nationalities'' as the number of pilgrims that have died has risen to 717.

It is believed that the numbers may still rise. The stampede took place at the point of a ritual called 'stoning the devil'. Over 800 people were injured. Two million Muslims from around the world are in Mecca for the Hajj