Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is flying to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj after receiving a special invitation from Saudi King Abdullah.
Fars News reported:
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday left Tehran for Saudi Arabia to perform the hajj, the first Iranian leader to take part in the annual Muslim pilgrimage in the history of the Islamic Republic.
Ahmadinejad kissed the Koran and read verses from the holy Muslim book before departing.
His plane took off for the western Saudi city of Jeddah at around 08:30 am (0500 GMT).
“On this journey, as well as carrying out the holy hajj pilgrimage, I will have meetings with officials,” he told state television before departing without elaborating.
“I will also meet with the great Muslim community who are present at the pilgrimage,” he added.
Ahmadinejad is attending the hajj at the invitation of Saudi King Abdullah – a highly symbolic move displaying solidarity between the two Muslim nations.
His pilgrimage to Islam’s holiest sites in Mecca and Medina, located in western Saudi Arabia, will be Ahmadinejad’s third visit to the kingdom since taking office.
Let’s hope the little guy doesn’t get trampled.