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| Believers prepare for 'Mayan apocalypse' | Believers prepare for 'Mayan apocalypse' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of people have gathered at ancient ruins in Central America and elsewhere in anticipation of what they believe will be the end of the world. | |
| The date - 21 December 2012 - is the apparent end of the "long count" calendar of the Mayan civilisation. | The date - 21 December 2012 - is the apparent end of the "long count" calendar of the Mayan civilisation. |
| In China, police have arrested hundreds of members of a Christian group who apparently believe the prophecy. | |
| Last year, experts said a new reading of the calendar revealed that it did not in fact predict the apocalypse. | Last year, experts said a new reading of the calendar revealed that it did not in fact predict the apocalypse. |
| Many believe the date instead marks the start of a new era in the calendar. | |
| The misconception about the "prophecy" of the end of the world is not the only myth circulating about the Maya, the BBC's Will Grant in Mexico reports. | |
| Many believe they were somehow wiped out shortly after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century, our correspondent says. | |
| But, in fact, the descendants of the people who built Chichen Itza, a Unesco World Heritage Site, are still here. | |
| They are the second largest ethnic group in Mexico, with between 800,000 and a million native Mayan speakers. | |
| The ancient Mayans flourished in modern-day Mexico and parts of Central America between 250 and 900AD. | |
| Magical sites | Magical sites |
| Hundreds of spiritualists gathered in the city of Merida in Mexico, about an hour-and-a-half from the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. | |
| One spot thought by some to be destined to escape the end of the world is the mountain of Bugarach in southern France. | |
| However, those preparing for the end of the world were reported to be far outnumbered by journalists. | However, those preparing for the end of the world were reported to be far outnumbered by journalists. |
| The Turkish town of Sirince, another site reputed to be safe from the end of the world, saw similar scenes on Thursday. | The Turkish town of Sirince, another site reputed to be safe from the end of the world, saw similar scenes on Thursday. |
| Hundreds of reporters were wandering aimlessly around the beautiful town of 570 inhabitants, the AFP news agency reported. | Hundreds of reporters were wandering aimlessly around the beautiful town of 570 inhabitants, the AFP news agency reported. |
| However, hotels around the Rtanj mountain in Serbia, a site rumoured to have magical powers, were booked out for the big date. | However, hotels around the Rtanj mountain in Serbia, a site rumoured to have magical powers, were booked out for the big date. |
| "I do not really believe that the end of the world is coming, but it is nice to be here in case something unusual happens," Darko, a 28-year-old designer visiting from Belgrade, told AFP. | "I do not really believe that the end of the world is coming, but it is nice to be here in case something unusual happens," Darko, a 28-year-old designer visiting from Belgrade, told AFP. |
| 'Evil cult' | 'Evil cult' |
| In China, police have arrested almost 1,000 members of a Christian group which has predicted that Friday will usher in three days of darkness. | In China, police have arrested almost 1,000 members of a Christian group which has predicted that Friday will usher in three days of darkness. |
| The group, called Almighty God, apparently urged its members to overthrow communism. | The group, called Almighty God, apparently urged its members to overthrow communism. |
| State media terms Almighty God an "evil cult", the same description it applies to the banned Falun Gong group. | State media terms Almighty God an "evil cult", the same description it applies to the banned Falun Gong group. |
| The belief has gained considerable popularity in China, where the film 2012 was a box office hit. | The belief has gained considerable popularity in China, where the film 2012 was a box office hit. |
| A farmer in Hebei province, Liu Qiyuan - not a follower of Almighty God - has built seven survival pods which can contain 14 people each. | A farmer in Hebei province, Liu Qiyuan - not a follower of Almighty God - has built seven survival pods which can contain 14 people each. |
| The pods, made of fibreglass, float on water and can survive storms. | The pods, made of fibreglass, float on water and can survive storms. |
| Mr Liu told the AFP news agency: "If there really is some kind of apocalypse then you could say I've made a contribution to the survival of humanity." | Mr Liu told the AFP news agency: "If there really is some kind of apocalypse then you could say I've made a contribution to the survival of humanity." |
| To calm anxieties, police in Beijing have posted an online notice telling people that "the so-called end of the world is a rumour". | To calm anxieties, police in Beijing have posted an online notice telling people that "the so-called end of the world is a rumour". |
| What do you think about the Mayan apocalypse prophecy? Have you made any preparations? Please send in your comments using the form below. | What do you think about the Mayan apocalypse prophecy? Have you made any preparations? Please send in your comments using the form below. |