Saudi Arabia denounces statements by Qathafi

A Saudi official source has accused Libya's Leader of the Revolution Colonel Muammar al Qathafi of seeking to undermine the basics of Arab solidarity and strongly criticized statements in which the Libyan leader linked between what he called the Wahhabi sect and the emergence of al-Qaida organization.

The Saudi official news agency quoted the source which it did not identify as saying that "the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia strongly denounces these statements which are baseless and the wrongs they imply." The Saudi source expressed wonder over these statements which are made at a time when the Arab nation is passing critical conditions. It indicated that Saudi Arabia is seeking with the Arab states to draw the bases for supporting joint Arab action and strengthening the position of the Arab League AL and its mechanisms.

According to this source, Qathafi made last Sunday an interview with an American TV station in which he said that "the Wahhabi sect in the Kingdom is responsible for the emergence of al-Qaida organization and other extremist groups." He accused the "regime in the Kingdom of being built on extremism."

Worthy mentioning that the Arab summit which was held in Sharm Esh Sheikh in Egypt in march witnessed a verbal row between Qathafi and the Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz following the latter complaint over the statements made by the Libyan leader concerning Saudi Arabia in a speech before the summit.