Saudi Arabia and Yemen to US: No Doha, because of Israel

Arab diplomatic sources have stressed that King Fahd of Saudi Arabia has sent a letter to US President Bill Clinton in which he informed him of Saudi Arabia's official decision not to participate in the economic summit scheduled to be held in Doha in November 1997.

The Saudi ambassador in Washington, Prince Bandar Bin Sultan, has delivered the message to President Clinton.

At the same time the speaker of the Yemeni parliament Mr. Abdullah Al Ahmer has declared that his country will boycott the Doha conference.

Also he called on the Arab countries to boycott the conference which has stirred controversy because an invitation was issued to Israel.

Mr. Al Ahmer reiterated his country's rejection of all forms of normalization with Israel until a just and comprehensive peace is achieved.

Similarly, in Jordan, many Jordanians have expressed opposition to holding the Doha conference.