Saudi King grants Shoura council new authorities

Saudi Arabia's King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz has offered a greater legislative role for the Shoura council in Saudi Arabia, at a time when the Kingdom is proceeding forward with political reforms demanded by Saudis and westerners.

A royal decree issued on late Saturday evening provides for transferring authority from the government to members of the Shoura council, which is a non- elected parliament, whose members are appointed by the king. The decree also facilitates to the council the ability to enact new laws.

This announcement was made after the decision issued in October to make local election in 2004 in the kingdom. It had also followed a wave of explosions related to Islamic groups that resulted in killing 50 persons this year.

The latest changes to the Shoura council allow proposing new amendments and laws, without seeking permission from the king. It also means that when differences erupts between the government and the Shoura council over any case, the government will submit it first to the council for commenting instead of sending it directly for the king for a decision.

Members in the council, however, denied these steps to have had come in responce to the acts of violence al-Qaida organization is accused of committing to topple the ruling family. They said this comes in the course of the gradual operation of political reform.

The Shoura council which is composed of 120 members and has a consultative role. However, it had become more effective in the last decade. Members of the council said that the government has accepted most of its recommendations. In January this year, the council rejected plans advocated by the ministry of finance to impose an income tax on non- Saudi workers. This resulted in postponing these plans.

The Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz disclosed plans in October 2002 to make local elections next year.