July 21, 2002	Sunday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 10,1423

WASHINGTON, July 20: The United States on Saturday terminated a controversial programme that allowed Saudi citizens to submit applications for US visas through travel agencies, the State Department said.

The so-called “visa express” programme had been a prime target in an increasingly vitriolic battle between the department and conservative lawmakers and media over allegations that US diplomats were endangering national security with lax processing of visa applications. —AFP