June 23, 2003	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 22,1424

RIYADH, June 22: Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah has urged the Saudi citizens “to fulfil their religious and national duty” by informing authorities about members of militant groups or those who support and sympathize with them. As the momentum against the extremist elements picked up throughout the kingdom, the Prince Abdullah vowed to crush such extremist elements.

“These misguided groups, whose members’ minds have been possessed by the devil, will be punished and defeated, God willing, along with those who support them,” the Crown Prince emphasized.

Prince Abdullah, the de facto ruler of the kingdom entrusted with the running of the day-to-day affairs, said terrorists, their supporters and sympathizers violated the Islamic faith and were shunned by Saudis and all Muslims alike.

44 arrested: Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz said in remarks published on Sunday that authorities in the kingdom have arrested 44 people, including four women, since the suicide attacks in Riyadh on May 12.

The minister said that the kingdom had cracked down on a number of radical preachers it blamed for inciting violence.

Prince Nayef said the government plans to set up a body to oversee charitable donations in the kingdom to prevent them from directly or indirectly reaching militant groups.

“I know that the state is moving to set up a national authority to organise alms,” the prince said.—dpa