JEDDAH, 20 April 2004 — Saudi Arabia yesterday commended the bravery of the Kingdom’s security forces in a spate of clashes with terrorists in recent weeks, and vowed to continue its fight against terror.
“We will never forget the men who were martyred or injured in the brave defense of their religion, country and people,” said Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard.
He was referring to the security men gunned down by suspected terrorists in Riyadh and Qasim. Addressing the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh, Prince Abdullah said, “This clique of terrorists, which seeks to undermine the stability of the country... can only increase the cohesion and unity” of Saudis. “Every citizen is a security man and a support to police and will be ready to sacrifice his life to protect his country and people from the forces of evil,” he said.
The Cabinet meeting also expressed surprise over statements by US President George W. Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon during a recent joint press conference, which was widely seen as slamming the door on the Palestinians’ right to return. It condemned Israel’s policy of targeted assassination, saying it would only escalate the violence in the occupied Arab territories.
“Violence gives birth to violence and the best solution is to return to international legitimacy,” Culture and Information Minister Fouad Al-Farsy said quoting a Cabinet statement.
The Cabinet meeting offered its condolences to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat on the assassination of Hamas leader Abdelaziz Al-Rantissi by Israeli forces.
Prince Abdullah briefed the ministers on the outcome of his talks with Bahrain’s King Hamad on Sunday. The talks focused on major regional developments and a fresh Arab summit. Tunisian Foreign Minister Habib Ben Yahya yesterday met with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd and handed him an official invitation to attend the summit in Tunis on May 22.
Farsy quoted the Cabinet as saying it was concerned over the worsening security situation in Iraq as a result of growing confrontation between the Iraqi resistance and the US-led occupation forces.
It urged the United Nations to play a leading role in bringing security and stability to the war-torn country.
