September 24, 2002	Tuesday	Rajab 16, 1423

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RIYADH, Sept 23: As the United States continues with its military build-up in the region, the Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah in Riyadh received the top US commander for the region Gen Tommy Franks on Sunday.

Gen Franks, the commander of the US forces in the Gulf and Central Asia, is apparently visiting the region to shore up the US strike capability, in preparation of a possible war with Iraq.

Earlier he had visited his troops in the Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Oman, where he also called on senior government and defence officials. Just preceding his Saturday visits to the Emirates and Oman, Gen Franks presided over in Kuwait a two-day meeting of the top commanders of the US Central Command, responsible for the entire region from the sub-continent to the Gulf. As per reports some 8,000 US troops are currently present in Kuwait.

In case of any military assault on Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar could be used by the US military. The Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar is being developed rapidly to be suitable for the requirements of the US military in case of a possible attack. However, the Kuwaiti government has again clarified that its land could not be used as a springboard for any attack against Iraq, unless the action is authorized by the UN Security Council. Kuwaiti Defence Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Sabah told the Al-Watan newspaper the United States could not use his emirate as a springboard for an attack on Iraq unless the offensive comes under the blanket of a UN resolution.