Prince Nayef announces bringing 90 Saudis to court over joining al-Qaida
Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/19/2003

Saudi Arabia's minister of the interior Prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz stressed yesterday that 90 Saudis were brought before the court after it was proved they have joined al-Qaida organization, among other 253 detainees who are still being interrogated, while other 150 Saudis were released.

The Saudi minister called on the opposition to return back home but under the condition to "confess its wrong deeds." Once again, the Saudi minister denied to have political prisoners in Saudi Arabia. He added "the others remaining ( in jails) are almost 200," adding that all of them are accused of joining al-Qaida and they are not held under the category of political prisoners.

In an interview with the Saudi daily Okaz issued yesterday, the Saudi minister accused foreign sides or organizations he did not identify of penetrating into the Saudi youths and misleading them. He said that the kingdom does not rule out terrorist attacks in case war erupts against Iraq and that it is ready to face all possibilities.

He rejected news stated by the New York Times last week on his opposition to the reform the Saudi crown prince Abdullah wants to see implemented. He said "It is impossible to oppose what his excellency the crown prince had stated." On the other hand, Prince Nayef denied any political motives behind the killing of the secretary of al-Jouf Emirate Hamad al-Wardi. He said there was no perpetuated threat against any persons.

Previous Stories:
  Saudi Arabian official assassinated by unidentified person   (2/18/2003)
  Saudi prince calls for protecting Iraq   (2/17/2003)
  22,000 Gulf troops to Kuwait; but will not take part in any war against Iraq   (2/14/2003)
  New York Times: Saudi Arabia wants US military out; democratic elected councils and parliament   (2/10/2003)

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