Washington calls Riyadh to speed reforms, Saudi demonstrations foiled
Saudi Arabia-USA, Politics, 10/24/2003

The Saudi Arabian security forces yesterday foiled a series of citizens' efforts that took place in Riyadh and several Saudi cities for the second time within one month, demanding for political reforms, despite the threats made by the authorities to punish those who respond to demonstration which was called on from London by the Islamic movement for reform.

Meantime, a high ranking American official said that the US cannot turn its back in Saudi Arabia in a similar manner in which things developed with the Taliban's regime in Afghanistan. He added that Saudi Arabia has to accelerate the pace of social and legislative reforms and the royal family has to permit a vast people's participation in the rule in order to restore back people's legitimacy for the long run.

The official who described Saudi Arabia as "more than being a gas pump" for the USA, defended the importance of Saudi-American relations which were greatly damaged since September 11 attacks. The official explained that Washington needs Saudi Arabia because of its needs for its airspaces to facilitate the movement of the American forces, for its Islamic importance in the world, its role as 'moderate' Arab state, and its great impact on the Palestinians.

The official added "if we -- for some reason -- decide to turn our backs to Saudi Arabia, the result will not be good, we will see a regime similar to that of Taliban full of conservative and extremist elements."

The American official commended the decision taken by Saudi Arabia to make partial municipal elections and called on Riyadh for further political and social reforms. He said "The vision is in transferring this 'inclination' to other sectors: to electing governorates council and part of the Shoura council."

The American official considered that "what is taking place in Saudi Arabia is not enough, but open the door for further political progress and for great citizen participation." He added "we will be in need of further people's participation. I think that this progress is very important for the regime to preserve legitimacy and the support of people for the next coming years."

A small number of demonstrators succeeded in gathering in Jeddah, but the security forces contained it and prevented the increase in the number of participants when 50 of them were detained.

Several sources talked about measures taken by the Saudi authorities to obstruct marches that were expected in more than one Saudi city, including blocking roads and an intensive deployment for the police members and taking pictures the bystanders and registering numbers of car lisence plates in the region, before executing detention acts similar to those that took place in Jeddah.

Previous Stories:
  Iraqi refugees in Saudi Arabia return back to Iraq one shift every week   (10/22/2003)
  Saudi opposition calls for demonstration tomorrow   (10/22/2003)
  Saudi Arabia: partial Shoura council elections within three years   (10/20/2003)
  FBI members increased in Riyadh   (10/3/2003)
  Attacking al-Qahtani in Riyadh was made in collaboration with FBI   (9/26/2003)
  Saudi crown prince gets a telephone call from Bush   (9/22/2003)

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