JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- No South Africans are believed to have been killed in a stampede on Thursday during the annual Muslim pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, the Foreign Affairs Department said on Friday.

    Spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said "at this stage there are no known South African fatalities according to the South African diplomatic mission in Jeddah." "As far as the mission is concerned all South Africans on pilgrimage there have been accounted for," he added.

    More than 300 pilgrims were trampled to death and scores injured as they tripped over luggage in a scramble to hurl pebbles during the "stoning of the devil" ritual in Mina outside Mecca.

    The hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. Muslims are duty-bound to perform the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetimes, health and finances permitting. Enditem