The Jordanian Minister for Islamic Affairs and Religious Endowments, Abdul Fatah Salah, has denied media reports suggesting that the ministry intended to prohibit pilgrims journeying to Saudi Arabia this year due to the spread of swine flu. Salah said that his ministry had not studied or discussed this issue and would, in contrast, announce soon the start of the registering process for the 2009 Haj season. Salah said the ministry had made accommodation arrangements for Jordanian and Palestinian pilgrims in Makkah and Madina