JEDDAH, 21 July 2004 — Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, yesterday called on militants still at large to take advantage of a royal amnesty before it expires on Friday.

Speaking from his palace in Jeddah where he met senior government officials and military commanders, Prince Sultan said: “Islam is a religion of compassion, mercy and peace. Terrorists still in hiding should make use of the amnesty and surrender before it is too late.”

“We hope that those remaining will be reasonable enough to use the period left to turn themselves in. Amnesty usually comes from men of magnanimity and generosity and it always comes with victory. The amnesty declared by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd was a noble act and we hope those who have not given themselves up would benefit from this pardon,” Prince Sultan was quoted by the Saudi Press Agency as saying.

On June 23 King Fahd issued a limited amnesty for those involved in a series of terror acts that killed nearly 90 people, including foreigners and Saudis, over a period of two years, warning them to turn themselves in within 30 days or face the full might of the state.

In a televised speech read on his behalf by Crown Prince Abdullah, the king said all those affiliated to the group and who were not captured had a chance to return to God and engage in soul-searching.

“Those who turn themselves in of their own will within a month of this speech will be secure in the security of God as far as they are concerned, and will be treated according to God’s law pertaining to the rights of others. The rational who take up (the offer) will be secure. As for those who spurn it, by God, our forbearance will not prevent us from striking with the full force we draw from our reliance on God,” warned the crown prince.

Since the month-long amnesty was issued only four wanted militants have come forward despite government assurances that they would be exonerated should they repent.

On Sunday it was announced that foreign countries had handed over 27 wanted Saudis to the Kingdom’s security forces. They were all wanted on security grounds.

Prince Sultan said the Kingdom has been subjected to a wave of violence and terrorism committed by some Saudis who have been used as tools by others to carry out criminal acts. The security forces were winning their battle against those behind the acts of violence in the country.

“The deterioration of this deviant group and the downfall of its figures one after the other confirms that Allah is looking after this country,” he said.

The authorities have repeated that the amnesty will not be extended and those who opt not to take advantage of it have been threatened with a harsh crackdown.