King Abdullah stresses duty of security forces

MINA: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah stressed the duty of the security forces to guard the Kingdom against any enemies’ attempt to disrupt its unity and stability, especially when the region is passing through a troublesome time.
“You are our nation’s shield after Allah. No doubt, you are aware of the state through which our region is passing currently. The Ummah’s enemies are waiting in ambush for your nation. They have no other goal but to disrupt our nation’s safety and unity, which were achieved with the struggles of King Abdul Aziz and your forefathers, may Allah be pleased with them,” the king, supreme commander of all military forces, told the commanders and officers of the security forces and scouts serving in this years’ Haj in a reception at the royal palace in Mina yesterday.
“Sedition is surrounding us from all sides, there is nothing to protect us from it except to standing firm, with total reliance on Allah, against any one who fancy to play with our country’s safety, unity and sovereignty,” the king said, reminding the armed forces their responsibility to rise up to their task.
The king also received princes, scholars and sheikhs including the grand mufti, guests from the Gulf Cooperation Council and ministers in the same function, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
“I congratulate you and the people of Saudi Arabia on the occasion of the blessed Eid Al-Adha and pray to Almighty Allah to repeatedly shower more blessings on our country and the Muslim Ummah,” the king said.
All the guests greeted and congratulated the king on the occasion of the Eid Al-Adha.
Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense; Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, chairman of the Central Haj Committee; and Interior Minister Prince Ahmed, chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee, also attended the reception.
Speaking on the occasion, Gen. Saeed Al-Qahtani, director general of the Public Security and chairman of the security committee, said security forces have been striving to fulfill their responsibility at the orders of the king and directives of the crown prince and instructions of the interior minister and the Makkah governor to ensure maximum safety and security to the pilgrims making their rites and movements smooth and comfortable.
“The Haj security forces and support forces have executed all the security plans prepared in advance and have succeeded in creating a safe environment for the millions of pilgrims to perform their rites comfortably,” Al-Qahtani said.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Ghalib Al-Johani, secretary-general of the Civil Defense Council, inspected the emergency arrangements including shelters and the center for coordination of emergency operations at Mina. Al-Johani expressed satisfaction at the arrangements that can handle any difficult situation.
Civil Defense is also distributing booklets of awareness programs about handling emergency situations in nine languages to pilgrims. They discuss briefly what the pilgrims should do in situations of flood, torrential rains, cyclone and falling rocks. The program also discusses hazards involved in using liquefied gas for cooking in tents and sleeping on pavements besides the precautions while they pass through pedestrian and motor tunnels and against sunstroke.