The Haj pilgrimage, which is scheduled to begin mid-February, is likely to delay an American attack on Iraq till at least March.

Nearly 2.5 million Muslims from all over the world converge on three cities -- Mecca, Medina and Arafat -- of Saudi Arabia, an ally of the United States and Iraq's neighbour, for the Haj pilgrimage around this time of the year.

More than the threat to their lives, an US attack on Iraq at this time might spark off an immediate reaction in the Gulf, which the US-friendly governments may find difficult to control.

"If the US attacks Iraq, the governments several nations in the Gulf may rally behind US. But the masses would support Iraq," Mohammad Afzal, a former Rajya Sabha member, who had served on the board of the Indian Haj Committee for several years, told rediff.com.

"If even one fourth of the total people assembled in Saudi Arabia decide to voice their protest, it would become difficult for the Saudi Arabian government to tackle the situation?" he said.

"The US would not act in a haste and precipitate a crisis that could antagonise its friends among the Islamic governments whose support it is actively seeking to launch an attack on Iraq," Afzal said.

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld recently said that despite a large build-up of the US military in the Gulf region, the use of force against Iraq was possible but not inevitable.

"Our first choice would be that (Iraq president) Saddam Hussein would pack up and leave the country. That will be nice for everybody. Or, he would turn over a new leaf and cooperate with the UN and disgorge all his (military) capabilities," he told reporters.

He also said that US President George W Bush had not yet decided to use force against Iraq, but the continuing flow of American troops to the region lend him flexibility while dealing with the Iraqi president.

Notably, the US-led strikes on Taliban-ruled Afghanistan that started in October 2001 and which, barring Iran, enjoyed worldwide support, were suspended during the Muslim holy month of Ramzan (some time in November-December), when devout Muslims observe a dawn-to-dusk fast.

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