JEDDAH, 20 October — Interior Minister Prince Naif said yesterday that Saudi Arabia has no dispute with the United States over the war on terrorism, but repeated calls for more US cooperation with Riyadh.
"There is no dispute between the two countries, and our ties are distinguished," Prince Naif told Al-Hayat Arabic daily.
"But there is a need to upgrade the level of cooperation, especially with regard to the latest developments. Cooperation is required not only from the US but also from all other countries," he said.
On Monday, Prince Naif rejected US media accusations that Riyadh was not cooperating enough with Washington in the fight against terrorism. In turn, he criticized Washington for failing to cooperate enough with the Saudis.
If the Kingdom has come under criticism for having been easy on terrorism, Riyadh accuses Washington of failing to provide any evidence about the involvement of Saudis in the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
Riyadh has also criticized the US for failing to provide proof of financing terrorism before cracking down, and expressed its objection to the killing of innocent civilians in the US-led war in Afghanistan.
"Until now, we have not received any confirmation, in the form of material evidence, that the Saudi suspects had carried out the attacks either alone or in cooperation with others," the prince said.
At least half a dozen Saudis figure on US lists of suspects into the Sept. 11 attacks that the United States believes were masterminded by Osama Bin Laden.
Commenting on the reports that a number of Saudi volunteers were fighting alongside forces of Bin Laden and the Taleban militia, he said: "If this was true, they will do nothing except harm to themselves."
Separately, Saudi newspapers said Prince Naif will visit Yemen on Monday to discuss "security cooperation, especially with regard to combating terrorism." The Saudi minister will also discuss border demarcation between the two Arab neighbors.
In a related development, Higher Education Minister Dr. Khaled Al-Anqari ruled out the return of Saudi students pursuing their higher studies in the US. "The students who have returned after the terror attacks will go back to the US to continue their studies," he said, adding that there was no plan to send them to any other country.
Speaking to Arab News after presiding over a meeting of the King Abdul Aziz University Council in Jeddah, Anqari disclosed that approval had been given for a number of private universities and colleges, which will start their work by next academic year.
