Saudi Arabia admits possible indirect sneaking of Saudi fighters to Iraq
Saudi Arabia-Iraq, Politics, 7/14/2004

The Saudi minister of the interior Prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz, yesterday admitted for the first time the possibility that Saudi fighters sneaked to Iraq. But he denied that any of those fighters went there " through a direct way."

In a press conference in Riyadh following a session for the Saudi Shoura council during which "the violence phenomenon" was discussed, Nayef said that Riyadh was not notified officially that Saudis are in Iraq. But he added " certainly there are Saudis.. But the number and how this had happened is not available to us now." He also denied that any of the Saudi fighters who sneaked to Iraq, went there " in the direct way," expressing his hope to making contacts with the Iraqi side to this effect when the Iraqi security department is built.

Nayef disclosed that hundreds of detainees are held by the Saudi authorities "and are interrogated." he explained " those who took part in the destructive operations will be brought before the judiciary."

Meantime, the Saudi official news agency quoted Nayef as saying that he expects more gunmen to surrender in response to the amnesty decision announced by the Kingdom but he stressed that the amnesty grace period will not be extended.

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