Muslims start the hajj amid year of Arab uprisings

Libyans long denied the opportunity to make the hajj usually reserved for Muammar Gaddafi's cronies have joined the millions of Muslims ascending a holy mountain to begin the annual weeklong pilgrimage.

Vast crowds of pilgrims – wearing white robes to symbolize purity and equality under God – started at dawn on Saturday to ascend the Mountain of Mercy at Arafat, 12 miles (19 kilometers) outside Mecca, where Islam's Prophet Muhammad is said to have delivered his farewell sermon. (AP)