June 24, 2002	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 12, 1423

RIYADH, June 23: Saudi Arabia was not targeted by the Al Qaeda organization, Saudi second deputy premier and minister for defence and aviation Prince Sultan told the press here.

In his statement before the local press, he condemned the move by the western media to link Al Qaeda network with Saudi Arabia. Last week Saudi Arabia announced the arrest of seven Al Qaeda members, including six Saudis and a Sudanese on suspicion of planning attacks against vital installations in the Kingdom.

Prince Sultan also denied that “any terrorist group” has been behind the death of Simon John Venesse, a British employee of Al-Bank Al Saudi Al-Fransi, who was killed by a bomb in Riyadh last Thursday.

In a related development, deputy interior minister Prince Ahmad said the Thursday’s car bomb attack was similar to a series of blasts that had taken place in Riyadh allegedly involving bootleggers.

“The circumstances are quite similar to previous incidents by all standards, including the type of explosion and method followed. However, we cannot say anything for sure unless investigations are completed,” he said, and hoped the probe would not take long.

Prince Sultan also dismissed suggestion that Iraq posed any threat to the Kingdom.

The security agencies in the Kingdom have also arrested five Saudis and an Iraqi for protecting the Sudanese mastermind of an aborted missile attack near Prince Sultan Air Base in Al-Kharj, north of Riyadh. These six people helped the Sudanese leave the Kingdom via Iraq. Khartoum has since extradited the Sudanese man to the Kingdom on Riyadh’s request.

Prince Sultan also admitted it was difficult to prevent cross border smuggling (of arms and other things) into the Kingdom. He was replying to a question how the recently arrested Al Qaeda men smuggled two SAM-2 missiles into the Kingdom.

“As you know, the Kingdom’s border comprises deserts and mountains. So it will be difficult to completely stop smuggling. But we’ll deal with the culprits behind them with an iron hand,” he said. SAM missile is a light weapon that could be carried in a bag after disassembling it, he pointed out.