Some devotees were crushed to death under the feet of fellow worshippers, others drowned after falling or jumping into the river Sindh.

“The closer we get to the deadline the greater the impact will be for the developing world,” Kim told the World Bank's annual meeting.

One focus was the upcoming negotiations between Iran and the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany.

"Our anti-aircraft machine guns shot the plane that had been on a reconnaissance flights from the morning," said Abdullah Masalmah.

Israel tightened a blockade on Gaza when Hamas took power in 2007 and has gradually eased restrictions since 2010.

However, Araqchi's statement may be "the usual pre-negotiation posturing", said Middle East specialist Shashank Joshi.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry flew to London for talks that will include discussion of the Geneva conference with Lakhdar Brahimi.