RIYADH, 1 November — Interior Minister Prince Naif stated yesterday that Saudi Arabia does not support US-led strikes on Afghanistan. “No, the Kingdom is not backing (the strikes) in the real sense of the word,” he told reporters on arrival from Bahrain after attending a GCC meeting.
“The Kingdom only has a position on the anti-terror campaign, “ he said, without elaborating. The US-led coalition should work to avoid bombing innocent civilians and concentrate strikes on terrorists, Al-Madinah newspaper quoted him saying.
Meanwhile, Deputy Interior Minister Prince Ahmad urged Mulla Omar and Osama Bin Laden to come out of their hideout to face an international trial. He ridiculed Al-Qaeda and Taleban leaders for hiding in caves and bunkers after endangering the lives of Afghan people.
“This is not jihad and there is nothing to be proud of. This should be condemned by all Muslims,” he added.
Speaking to reporters after opening a seminar organized by the Department of Prisons, he held Bin Laden and Mulla Omar responsible for the deaths of innocent civilians in Afghanistan.
“It is disgusting that persons who incite people and cause problems for them to go on hiding leaving others to face the war,” he told reporters. “Why don’t they come out of their hideout and face investigation by an international committee?” he added.
“I feel amazed how the Afghan people and interests of Muslims are being sacrificed for the sake of saving certain individuals,” Prince Ahmad said, adding that actions should be condemned by all Muslims.
Prince Ahmad disclosed that no exact figure was available on the number of Saudis arrested in the United States for questioning following the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
“We don’t have exact figure, because a person may be detained today and released the next day,” Prince Ahmad told reporters after opening a seminar organized by the Department of Prisons.
He said the government and the Saudi Embassy in Washington were closely following up the cases of Saudi detainees in the US.
“We hope that they will not receive any harm as they are all good people,” he added. Prince Naif said on Monday that the Kingdom would recall its citizens in the US if the harassment against them continues. He also disclosed that Kuwait had requested the Kingdom through the Interpol to extradite a Filipino working in Jeddah accused of participating in the killing of a Canadian in the emirate. He said the Filipino would be extradited after completing the necessary procedures.
Prince Ahmad condemned the attacks on Saudi charitable organizations in Kosovo and other places, saying such attacks are unacceptable.
He disclosed the plan to set up reformatories in all the Kingdom’s regions. He said that violence, killings and strikes rarely occur at Saudi prisons.
