January 13, 2003	Monday	Ziqa'ad 9, 1423

RIYADH, Jan 12: Saudi Arabia said on Sunday it has set up a liaison office to seek information and help repatriate dozens of Saudi nationals captured in the US-led war on terror.

An Interior Ministry official said the office would follow up the cases of Saudis detained inside the United States, at a US military base in Cuba and in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Chechnya “to return the detainees for trial in Saudi Arabia”.

Saudi officials have said that over 100 Saudi nationals are among Al Qaeda and Taliban prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay base in Cuba, captured during the US-led war in Afghanistan.

Washington blames Al Qaeda network for the Sept 11 attacks on the United States. Most of the suicide hijackers were identified as Saudis.

“The office will follow up on all the consequences of Sept 11 and its effect on some Saudi citizens abroad,” ministry spokesman Saud al-Musaibih told the Saudi Press Agency, adding that the office would also provide their families with information on their conditions.

Saudi Arabia, whose ties with key ally the United States have been strained by the Sept 11 attacks, has said most of the Saudis held at the US base in Cuba are youngsters who were duped into joining fighters in Afghanistan.—Reuters