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| Arabia |
| Foreign hand seen in Qatif unrest |
| 2011-11-25 |
| JEDDAH: Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman of the Interior Ministry, blamed foreign elements on Thursday for the clashes between security forces and rioters in the eastern city of Qatif that have claimed the lives of four people. "The clashes were instigated by foreign elements," the spokesman said while addressing a press conference in Riyadh. He said special security forces have been deployed in the city to deal with the situation and maintain security. Al-Turki, while blaming foreign influence behind deviant groups, said that these groups are continuously escalating their activities and seeking ways to break the law. "What is important is to deal with the current reality that is preserving peace in the area and the Kingdom. We do not want to name these groups or those behind them but what is vital at this time is that these people involved in the event are brought before the court and confess to who is supporting them," he added. Two people died and three wounded in an exchange of gunfire in Qatif on Wednesday following a string of attacks on security checkpoints during a funeral procession. "These casualties have occurred following the exchange of gunfire with unknown criminal elements who have infiltrated the citizens' ranks, and are firing from residential areas and narrow streets," the ministry said in a statement late Wednesday night. The ministry added: "The goal of those who provoke unrest is to achieve dubious aims dictated to them by their foreign masters." It said the rioters had burned tires and blocked roads. "The security forces in the area are fully authorized to deal with the situation and end these criminal actions," it said and warned saboteurs in Qatif of stiff punishment. Last month, the government pledged to use "an iron fist" after it said 14 people, including 11 policemen, had been wounded in an attack on a police station in Awamiya, a village outside Qatif town. According to a security source, a number of security checkpoints and police vehicles came under fire during clashes in Awamiya on Oct. 3, 2011. "The rioters have resumed their gun attacks since Monday, resulting in the death of two citizens and injuring six others including a woman and two security officers," the source said. The ministry urged Qatif people to stop such criminal elements that try to undermine the Kingdom's security and stability in order to save innocent people from falling victims of such clashes. "We have been dealing with these criminal elements proportionately without causing any harm to ordinary citizens in the city," said Gen. Al-Turki while answering a question. He added that security forces are firmly dealing with these groups but while dealing with them they use extreme caution "because we fear for people's safety." |
| Posted by:Steve White |