19 February 2004	Thursday	27 Zilhaj 1424

RIYADH, Feb 18: Saudi Arabia has agreed to stop construction of a fence on the border with Yemen aimed at stemming cross-border smuggling of weapons. Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi said on Tuesday that the two countries had also agreed at the summit talks in Riyadh to step up joint patrol of the border.

Yemen President Ali Ahmad Saleh concluded on Wednesday his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, during which he discussed the issue with Saudi leaders at length. The agreement was reached during the visit.

"It has been agreed the construction will be suspended and the two sides will be responsible for coordinating activities for patrolling borders to prevent smuggling and illegal migration of personnel," al-Qirbi was reported as saying.

Yemen had complained the Saudi fence violated a border treaty signed by the two countries in 2000 which established a demilitarised zone on either side of the frontier.

Al-Qirbi said Saudi Arabia had built nearly 75km of barrier in separate sections along the 1800-km border with Yemen. The barrier, in parts a concrete-filled pipeline, fell within 100 metres of the border in some areas, he said.