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Iran Presses Saudi over More than 340 Missing Pilgrims

Iran urged Saudi Arabia on Saturday to locate more than 340 of its nationals still missing in the aftermath of the deadly stampede at the annual hajj pilgrimage.

So far, 136 Iranians are known to have been killed and 102 injured, said the head of Iran's hajj organisation, Said Ohadi, in the worst tragedy in a quarter-century at the pilgrimage to Islam's holiest sites in western Saudi Arabia.

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Hariri: Nasrallah's Rhetoric Dims Hopes for President, Settles Political Scores with Saudi Arabia

Al-Mustaqbal movement leader Saad Hariri criticized on Saturday Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's position saying that the latter has linked the fate of Lebanon's presidency to that in Syria, dimming the hopes to have a head of state.

“Sayyed Hassan has announced that Lebanon will not have a president before knowing the fate of the presidency in Syria,” said Hariri via twitter.

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Former Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Missing after Stampede in Saudi Arabia

Iran's state TV says Ghazanfar Roknabadi, a former ambassador to Lebanon, is among those missing after at least 719 pilgrims died in a stampede during the hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

The Saturday broadcast said two Iranian state TV reporters and a prominent political analyst are also missing. At least 134 Iranian pilgrims died and 85 were injured in the Thursday incident, while 354 Iranian pilgrims remain missing, according to the report.

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Iran Demands Role in Hajj Stampede Probe, Holds Anti-Saudi Protest

Iran demanded Friday that it and other affected countries be represented in the Saudi investigation into the stampede that killed more than 700 pilgrims, including 131 Iranians, at this year's hajj.

"Countries such as Iran, which have suffered so much, should be represented in the inquiry to determine the causes of the catastrophe and to gain assurances that it will not be repeated in the future," First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri said after an extraordinary session of the cabinet.

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Salam to Attend Opening of Development Summit in New York

Prime Minister Tammam Salam was in New York on Friday to attend the opening of the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015.

The summit is aimed at formally approving an ambitious and costly 15-year blueprint to eradicate extreme poverty, combat climate change and address more than a dozen other major global issues.

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Armed Groups, Including Hizbullah, Vital Prop for Syria's Beleaguered Army

More than 150,000 trained and equipped fighters in pro-government groups, including Hizbullah, have become an indispensable brace for a Syrian army beleaguered by well over four years of intractable conflict.

"There are more than 25 main militias of different sizes that fight alongside the Syrian army" and number between 150,000 and 200,000 men, a security source told Agence France Presse.

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Saudi Criticized after Hajj Stampede Kills more than 700

Blame shifted towards Saudi authorities Friday after a crush at the hajj killed at least 717 people in the worst tragedy to strike the annual Muslim pilgrimage in a quarter-century.

The disaster, which also injured several hundred people, was the second deadly accident to hit worshipers this month, after a crane collapse in the holy city of Mecca killed more than 100.

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Khamenei Says Saudi Bears Responsibility for Deadly Hajj Stampede

Iran's supreme leader said Saudi Arabia is responsible for Thursday's stampede during the annual hajj in which 90 Iranians were among more than 700 Muslim pilgrims killed.

Laying the blame for the deaths on "improper measures" and "mismanagement," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced three days of mourning.

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Iranian, European Firms Hobnob with Eye on Post-Sanction Bliss

Iranian and European business leaders gathered in Geneva Thursday to explore the massive opportunities expected to open up when years of biting sanctions against Tehran end, although experts warned huge challenges remained.

"We're seeing a lot of activities and a lot of interest from foreigners," enthused Ramin Rabii, the head of Turquoise Partners, Iran's largest managers of foreign portfolio investment on the Tehran stock market.

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Russia Announces Naval Drills in 'East Mediterranean'

Russia's defense ministry on Thursday said it will hold naval drills in the "east Mediterranean" in September and October, as the West frets over a military buildup by Moscow in Syria.

The exercises include three warships from Russia's Black Sea Fleet, including the Saratov landing ship, the Moskva guided missile cruiser and the Smetlivy destroyer, the ministry said in a statement.

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