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| Arabia |
| Naif warns terrorists ahead of Haj |
| 2003-02-07 |
| Interior Minister Prince Naif yesterday warned terrorist organizations wanting to undermine security during the Haj season that they will be countered âwith an iron fist.â Addressing a press conference here after inspecting Haj arrangements in Makkah, Mina and other holy sites, Prince Naif said his ministry has taken maximum security precautions for the Haj.âOur security precautionary measures for Haj this year are of the highest order,â said Prince Naif, who is also chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee. This they take very seriously. The interior minister also disclosed that the number of Al-Qaeda suspects in the Kingdom does not exceed 250, adding that they are all still under investigation. Prince Naif said the move to separate prisoners from the public security department was an independent decision, which was taken after extensive studies.âIt was not taken as a result of foreign pressure,â he insisted. Saw a report the other day that after some of these "suspects" had finished serving their sententces, they were deported. Thanks a lot, Naif. Asked whether the government would open its borders to receive Iraqi refugees in case war breaks out, Prince Naif said the Saudi border is now open only for receiving Iraqi pilgrims. âIf the war breaks out, the Saudi government will take a decision on this matter,â he added. However, he emphasized that the government will not allow any Iraqi to enter the Kingdom illegally. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #2 Pilgrim? You bet your ass I'm a pilgrim! |
| Posted by: Denny 2003-02-07 19:34:14 |
| #1 If I were in Iraq right now, I'd be singing, "Gimme That Ole Time Religion" as I ran for the border. |
| Posted by: JDB 2003-02-07 11:21:08 |