MECCA — The world’s largest annual religious pilgrimage began yesterday overshadowed by the swine flu pandemic as 2,5 million Muslims massed at the holy city of Mecca for the hajj.

A rare rainstorm and possible banned protests by Iranian pilgrims also threatened to mar the four-day hajj, but Saudi officials said they are prepared for all eventualities.

Four pilgrims, all of them already suffering from other health problems, have died from swine flu ahead of the official start of hajj rites.

But proven and suspected infections from the A(H1N1) flu amid hajj participants only number 67, Saudi Health Ministry spokesman Dr Khaled Marghlani told AFP.

Saudi authorities have deployed about 20 000 health workers to deal with major outbreaks during the hajj.

WHO has said that some 6 750 people have died from the flu worldwide.