January 9, 2002	Wednesday	Shawwal 24, 1422

RIYADH, Jan 8: Saudi authorities have demolished an Ottoman fortress on a hill overlooking the Grand Mosque in Makkah to make way for a major housing project, a Saudi source said on Tuesday.

“The Ajyad fortress was demolished about a week ago. Bulldozers are still working on the site,” said the source.

The project, which has provoked anger in Turkey, includes the construction of 11 high-rise residential towers consisting of 942 apartments, and a twin-tower five-star hotel with 1,200 rooms.—AFP