Muslim worshippers began leaving holy Islamic sites in Saudi Arabia Thursday, the fifth and final day of the haj pilgrimage which was overshadowed this year by a looming U.S.-led war on Iraq. The bulk of the two million pilgrims started trekking out of Mena, in western Saudi Arabia, for the nearby Muslim holy city of Mecca where they will perform a final ritual of circling the revered Kaaba, Islam's most sacred shrine, before heading home.

Fourteen pilgrims were crushed to death at Mena's Jamarat Bridge Tuesday during a traditionally accident-prone phase of the haj, where pilgrims stone a pillar symbolizing the devil. Despite the stampede, Saudi officials declared this year's haj a success.

The stampede occurred on the first day of the Eid al-Adha feast in which Muslims sacrifice livestock to commemorate the day when God tested Abraham.

In 2001 at least 35 people died in a stampede at the bridge and 119 died in a similar incident in 1998. The haj has been prone to disasters, but in its bloodiest tragedy in 1990, 1,426 pilgrims were trampled to death in a tunnel.

"What we have achieved is something to be proud of. We are honored to serve the good Muslim people," said Brigadier Suleiman bin Abdul Aziz, head of haj security.

"Everything was organized. We have deployed up to 10,000 troops to oversee a smooth movement back," he told Reuters.

Most of the white-robed pilgrims that packed the two km (1.2 mile) road between Mena and Mecca were on foot, but some were borne aloft on stretchers while others rode rickshaws.

Men carried bundles and rugs on their heads while women walked with babies strapped on their backs. Troops, health workers and ambulances lined the road just in case.

IRAQ WAR FEARS

Haj is mandatory once in a lifetime for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it. Pilgrims begin the ritual by retracing the footsteps of Prophet Mohammad 14 centuries ago.

This year's pilgrimage has been overshadowed by a build-up of U.S. troops in the Gulf region for a possible attack on Iraq over its alleged weapons of mass destruction. Baghdad denies having such weapons.

Saudi Arabia, where some 5,000 U.S. troops are stationed, is waging a diplomatic drive to avert war.

In a message on the second-day of the Eid feast, Saudi King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah told Muslims the kingdom was doing its utmost to prevent a war on Iraq, adding they were hopeful the crisis would be solved peacefully.

Saudi Arabia has deployed thousands of troops in the kingdom, a key U.S. ally, to prevent political demonstrations and authorities have vowed to crush any group planning sabotage.

Most pilgrims are opposed to a war and the looming Iraq campaign has further fueled deep resentment over what many see as blind U.S. support for Israel against Palestinians. But many said it was up to God to prevent this conflict from happening.

Some pilgrims interviewed by Reuters Wednesday appeared to support a call by Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden for Muslims to use suicide attacks to beat back a possible U.S. war on Iraq.

"We have faith in God," said Syrian pilgrim Ahmed al-Jamali. "So nobody cares even if there are a hundred wars."

PHOTO CAPTION

This is a natural color satellite image of Mecca, Saudi Arabia collected by DigitalGlobe on February 11, 2003. Mecca is the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad [PBUH} and it is the holiest city of Islam. This image was collected during the Hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca that all able-bodied Muslims are required to do at least once if they can afford it. Nearly 2 million pilgrims are in attendance. (AP Photo/Digitalglob