RIYADH, 1 April 2007 — Over 1,000 traffic policemen, 500 police cars, 200 motorbikes and 150 police units from outside Riyadh took part in ensuring traffic ran smoothly during the Arab summit that took place in Riyadh last week, Al-Watan newspaper reported yesterday.
The information was revealed by Head of the Riyadh Traffic Department Col. Abdul Rahman Al-Muqbil, who added that organizing traffic for the summit was a success. He added that Riyadh Governor Prince Salman personally supervised traffic plans for the two-day summit.
Al-Muqbil said that Prince Salman wanted to ensure traffic flowed smoothly and has now ordered the opening of side roads next to main roads that were closed for the summit.
He added that closed roads were opened in emergencies. On the first day of the summit, a woman in labor came to a closed checkpoint. Officers opened the checkpoint and accompanied the woman to the National Guard Hospital.
Al-Muqbil said the Traffic Department would warn drivers of closed roads two kilometers ahead to ensure that they were not taken by surprise in the last minute.
Heads of state and government of Arab League nations met in Riyadh Wednesday and Thursday for their 19th annual summit during which they discussed a host of regional and international issues.
