Riyadh does not rule out Saudis participation in Maan riots

The Saudi minister of the interior prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz said yesterday that he does not rule out the participation of Saudis in the acts of violence which took place last week in Maan. Prince Nayef told journalists "This is regrettable and this matter is of concern to our brothers in Jordan, hoping this will not be so. But might be that because of Maan closeness to the Saudi borders." He gave no further explanations."

On the other hand, Prince Nayef was asked if there are "Political detainees in Saudi Arabia," and he stressed that there are no political detainees. But there is only one man detained because he refused to say "I will honor all the regulations and laws enforced in the country and built on the Islamic legislation."

Replying to a question on a Saudi- American cooperation in search for members of al-Qaida organization members in the "Empty Quarters" desert in Saudi Arabia," Prince Nayef confined to saying "nothing of the sort is true. Only men of the Kingdom are doing so inside it."