On Iraq's war effect on political reform in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has been facing strong resistance for reforms from a religious pressure group, provoked by the war led by the US against Iraq.

Reform is a common expression in the press of the kingdom. Diplomats say that founding a pro- west government in Iraq might provoke the Saudis to change their country's tribal political framework and their society which is predominant by men.

However, the reform which may also include an elected parliament, a constitution and more rights for the woman might limit the authority of the religious establishments which has led the people's opposition for the war against Iraq and described collaboration with Washington as a sin.

The Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah has been studying an appeal for reforms submitted by 104 Saudi figures calling for a new social contract and a constitutional rule.

Muslim al-Awaji, a liberal Islamists activist, jailed in the 1990s said "we are in a position that affects all moderates in such a way they will be converted to extremists if the war lasts long." Thereby he was indicating to extremists allegations by a religious scholar in a seminar organized by the BBC last week. The scholar who asked to be anonymous said he wants the rulers of Saudi Arabia to eliminate corruption and end the American military presence in the kingdom including an airbase provides war facilities against Iraq.

Worth noting that some Saudi Arabian officials -- when talk about implementing reform or not -- in the kingdom have always used external excuses for not acting on reform, and when reform has come, it is has largely been symbolic which caused some to speculate that "talk of reform" is a political game to appease both reform sides of the debate -- in order to do neither.