DAMMAM, 27 March 2003 — Several transport companies have refused to rent their vehicles to the US forces in Kuwait, Al-Watan reported. Despite considerable profits from such contracts, the operators turned down offers from Kuwaiti middlemen to rent trucks to the US armed forces stationed in neighboring Kuwait, sources told the daily. Abdullah Al-Salem, manager of Salem Transportation, said he rented 22 old transportation trucks to a Kuwaiti transportation company to transport American solders at a profit of more than SR16,000. Metham Al-Hazeem, manager of Hazeem Transportation, said his company refused an offer from a company providing transportation for American forces for SR30,000 per truck per month. Other companies refused similar offers for fear their Haj and Umrah business could be negatively affected if they agreed.