| RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Abdullah, vowed the top oil producer would crush Al Qaeda militants and called on its citizens to stand united against all threats. "The challenges facing us today necessitates that we be vigilant towards anyone who tries to harm the country's unity," Abdullah said in comments carried by the official Saudi Press Agency late on Friday. "Those who hate this country of monotheism and solidarity will not rest when they see us united ... but you will be victorious over everyone who tries to violate this country." Saudi Arabia has been fighting a surge of Al Qaeda violence since May 2003, in which about 170 people - including Westerners - have been killed. On another front, Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador in Tripoli on Wednesday over what it said was a Libyan plot to assassinate the Crown Prince. Libya rejected the charge. Riyadh has accused exiled Saudi dissident Saad al-Fagih, whose group says it aims to topple the Saudi monarchy by peaceful means, of involvement in the assassination plan. On Thursday, U.N. Security Council members agreed to impose sanctions on Fagih, accused by Washington of links to Al Qaeda. reuters |