DUBAI, Jan 30: Two million pilgrims gathered on Friday in the town of Mina, five kilometres from Makkah, for prayer and meditation at the start of the Haj.

Security was tight as the spectre of terrorist attacks hung over the event. On Thursday five security personnel were killed in a shootout with militants east of the Saudi capital Riyadh, more than 700 kilometres from Makkah.

The civil defence department has deployed 9,300 officials, including firefighters and rescue workers, to the holy city. Police reinforcements have been deployed at the entrances to Makkah and on the roads leading to the holy sites.

Some 1,000 surveillance cameras have been installed on roads leading to the holy places to enable security forces to observe pilgrims and intervene if necessary.

Saudi officials say over 40,000 Iraqi pilgrims are in the country for performing Haj, the biggest number for years. Men dressed in "Ihram", and women covered from head to toe were making their way towards Mina on Friday night.

Twenty thousand buses were being used to transport the pilgrims from Makkah to Mina, although many pilgrims chose to walk. Before dawn on Saturday, the faithful will move toward Mount Arafat, a site revered for the culmination of the Haj. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) gave his last sermon at the place.

Pilgrims will return to Mina on Sunday after spending the night in the town of Muzdalifa to stone the Jamrat _ pillars representing the devil. This rite is followed by the sacrifice of a camel, sheep or cow marking the beginning of the Eid-ul-Azha.

More than 10,000 food outlets have been set up. Bakeries are equipped to make 10 million loaves of bread a day. The Saudi ministry of health has put in place plans to contain contagious diseases.-dpa