MINA, 17 February — Interior Minister Prince Naif said yesterday that the Kingdom had not yet received any “official demand” to extradite the three Afghans implicated in the murder of Afghanistan’s aviation and tourism minister.
Addressing a press conference after inspecting Haj arrangements in the holy sites, the prince denied press reports that the Kingdom had arrested the three Afghan security officials.
A Saudi official, who requested anonymity, had earlier told the AFP news agency that the Kingdom had arrested the three Afghan officials, and was ready to extradite them once they received a formal request.
But Prince Naif said the three officials were not among the Afghan pilgrims on the two flights that arrived after the killing, and thus could not be arrested.
“Authorities have checked the names of pilgrims coming from Afghanistan after the incident, but the names of the three (Afghan officials) were not there,” he said, referring to the arrival on Friday in Jeddah of some 890 pilgrims from Kabul.
Earlier in the day, Afghan interim leader Hamid Karzai said his administration had contacted the Kingdom about the three officials who allegedly escaped after killing the minister disguising themselves as pilgrims and boarding the flights.
He named the trio as the head of National Security’s political office, Gen. Abdullah Jan Tawhidi, Gen. Qalanderbeg, deputy technical officer in the Defense Ministry, and Saranwal Haleem, prosecutor in the Justice Ministry.
Omar Samad, spokesman for the Afghan Foreign Ministry, said yesterday that “a number” of people, including government officials, had been rounded up in connection with the murder of Abdul Rahman, the minister.
In his wide-ranging press conference, Prince Naif, the chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee, answered questions on various topics including the US threat to Iraq, a possible Al-Qaeda plan to breach Haj security and Saudi-Iran ties. He affirmed that the Kingdom would oppose any US military strike against Iraq, as part of Washington’s war against terrorism. “The Kingdom is against resolving disputes through wars. We will not under any circumstance support any war against any Arab country.”
Referring to reports that the American administration had sought the Kingdom’s permission to monitor the Haj in an effort to ward off any likely mischief by the Al-Qaeda organization, Prince Naif said: “Nobody will dare make such a request.”
“We have taken enough precautions for all eventualities during the Haj. Our hope is that all Muslims will honor the sanctity of this important event. But if anything goes wrong, God forbid, we are prepared to confront it,” he warned.
The interior minister said Riyadh had not received any official reply from Washington regarding its request to hand over the Saudis detained in the Guantanamo base in Cuba. “We are very much concerned about the Saudi detainees in Cuba and Afghanistan,” the minister said and held the Saudis responsible for their plight.
He blasted the anti-Saudi smear campaigns launched by US media. “The Kingdom will go ahead with its development programs, ignoring such campaigns,” he added.
He said he did not believe the Sept. 11 attacks on the US would affect the ongoing talks for the Kingdom’s membership in the World Trade Organization.
Prince Naif said the government will not allow any demonstrations or marches during the Haj.
"We hope our Iranian brothers will not engage in such activities and cooperate with Saudi authorities," he said, underscoring the strong relations between the Kingdom and Iran.
Prince Naif, who inspected the Haj facilities and security arrangements in Makkah, Mina and other holy sites, said precautionary measures have been taken to avoid deadly accidents in the Jamrat area. He urged pilgrims to perform their Haj duties in calm and peace, without hurting fellow pilgrims, especially the old and women. He highlighted the excellent facilities provided by the government in the service of the guests of God.
Prince Naif was accompanied by Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed, Health Minister Osama Shubokshi, Information Minister Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy, Haj Minister Iyad Madani, Commerce Minister Osama Faqeeh, Communications Minister Nasir Al-Salloum and Municipal and Rural Affairs Minister Muhammad Al-Jarallah. Prince Naif and his entourage watched a parade by security personnel taking part in the Haj operations with their equipment and weaponry.
Meanwhile, the Haj health committee met here yesterday and discussed the preparations made to provide health care to pilgrims. The panel reviewed the measures taken by hospitals and health centers in Makkah and other holy places to treat sick pilgrims.
