Saudi Arabia releases suspected persons who surrendered voluntarily

The Saudi Arabian authorities announced it had released all suspected persons who surrendered themselves, according to the royal pardoning issued by King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz in June.

The Saudi official news agency quoted a source at the ministry of the interior that the release was made at royal orders but did not disclose the number of released persons or the nature of accusations addressed to them.

The pardoning included persons suspected to have links to al-Qaida organization who were involved in the series of attacks started since 18 months and targeted western citizens. With the end of the grace period by the end of July, only six persons had already surrendered themselves. Prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz expected that more suspected persons will hand themselves over under the pardon.

Three of the six surrendered in Saudi Arabia, two in Syria and the third Sheikh Khaled al-Harbi surrendered in Iran. He appeared in a video tape with the leader of al-Qaida organization Osama Bin Laden commending launching September attacks against the USA.

In December, 2003, the Saudi authorities issued a list including the names 26 wanted persons. During the past months many of them were announced to be killed or detained by the police.