Iraqi Kurdish pilgrims wait at Arbil's International Airport before getting on a direct flight to Saudi Arabia for Hajj, in northern Iraq, January 3, 2005. Some 6000 Iraqi Kurdish pilgrims will be assisted by Kurdish regional government to reach Muslims most Holy sights of Mecca in the next few days for Hajj. For the first time Kurdish people had a chance to embark on the planes in Iraqi Kurdistan for direct flights to Saudi Arabia and symbolically launch Arbil airport as effectively international one. Picture taken January 3, 2005. REUTERS/Sasa Kralj HH/acm