JEDDAH, 17 June — Interior Minister Prince Naif advised Saudi citizens not to travel to the United States or other foreign countries unless there were compelling reasons such as treatment, studies or business.
With regard to strict regulations faced by Saudis visiting the US, Prince Naif, who is currently in the Moroccan city of Agadir, told Arabic newspaper Okaz that every country has the right to take whatever measures it deems appropriate on its territory.
About the Saudis arrested last month by Moroccan authorities for their suspected links with the Al-Qaeda, the prince said the results of the investigations will be known in a few days.
He added that the three people appear to be Saudis by their names. Saudi investigators are participating in the interrogations being conducted by Moroccan authorities.
Prince Naif confirmed that the men would be tried in Morocco and “we respect the laws of that country.” The security cooperation between the two countries is excellent, the prince added. He denied the presence of “sleeping cells” of Al-Qaeda or any other terrorist organization in the Kingdom.
Meanwhile, London-based Al-Hayat newspaper reported yesterday that some members of an Al-Qaeda cell arrested in Morocco were “close collaborators” of Osama Bin Ladin. “Some members of the cell took part in the war against the Americans in Afghanistan and have senior positions in Al-Qaeda,” the Al-Hayat daily said.
The newspaper quoted “informed” Moroccan sources as saying one of the men, Zuheir Al-Thabeti, a Saudi national, played an active role in the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhist statues in Afghanistan by Taleban last year.
The sources said the busting of the cell, which allegedly planned attacks on tourist targets in Morocco and NATO ships in the Strait of Gibraltar, had also foiled plans to activate other “sleeper cells” in several Arab and foreign capitals.
According to a report in The Washington Post, the three Al-Qaeda members have told Moroccan officials Bin Ladin had commanded his fighters in December to disperse across the globe to attack “American and Jewish interests.”
