JEDDAH, 13 August — Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal said yesterday that Saudi Arabia would not hand over the 16 Al-Qaeda suspects — extradited by Iran — to the United States if Washington makes any official request. However, he indicated there was possibility of exchanging investigation results with US authorities.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, a sister publication of Arab News, Prince Saud said: "We could share the information with the US and other friendly countries."
He said Iran knows that any information received by the Kingdom would be provided to Washington for fight against terrorism.
"If involvement of any of the 16 suspects in terrorist acts is proved they would be tried in accordance with Saudi laws," he added.
Prince Saud announced on Sunday that Tehran had detained and later handed over to the Kingdom 16 Al-Qaeda fighters who sought refuge in Iran after fleeing Afghanistan. Prince Saud told The Washington Post that a group of Saudi officials had gone to Iran in May to question the 16 Saudi nationals.
