JAKARTA, 10 January 2006 - At least 120 Indonesians have died, mostly of illness, during the annual Muslim haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, the state Antara news agency said Tuesday. Eleven died while performing the central rite of the haj in the plain of Arafat on Monday, Antara said, citing data from the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Most of the dead were elderly pilgrims.

Three Indonesians were among at least 76 people killed when a hostel housing haj pilgrims in the holy city of Mecca collapsed last Thursday. Last year 99 Indonesian pilgrims died. A total of 205,000 Indonesians were registered to take part in this year's haj. The pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam and Muslims are required to make it at least once in their lifetime if they have the means to do so.

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