04 January 2004	Sunday	11 Ziqa'ad 1424

RIYADH, Jan 3: Some 150 Saudis, including judges, university professors and a religious leader, have signed a document warning the kingdom against changing its school curricula.

The warning was signed on January 1, a day after Saudi intellectuals, scholars and prominent personalities recommended educational reforms at the end of a conference held to tackle the roots of militancy.

Saudi Arabia is battling a wave of suicide attacks which have killed more than 50 people since May 2003.

The kingdom's education system has come under attack in the West for promoting hatred towards Christians and Jews. In October, education ministry officials began removing references they saw as encouraging militancy.

Saudi Arabia, along with five other Gulf countries, also agreed last month to amend its school books to help stamp out militancy.

The warning criticised the proposed changes in the curriculum as American pressure that was aimed at "taking the kingdom along the path of infidels".

"Any omissions or mutilation of what was written by the Islamic scholars... contradicts the national unity the state is calling for, as this unity is based on our religious creed," the statement said.

Reformists in kingdom criticised the warning. "This is an attempt by hardliners who benefit from the status quo to keep their influence," said one, who declined to be named.-Reuters