RIYADH, May 30: Saudi Arabia's Gulf partners on Sunday joined a chorus of condemnation over the attacks and killings in Saudi Arabia and expressed their solidarity with the kingdom as it wages its own war on terror.
"The GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) denounces these acts and gives its support to Saudi Arabia for all measures it takes to face terrorism," the group said in statement from its Riyadh headquarters.
Those who carried out the attacks are "an intruder minority, with no relation to Islam," it added. The Saudi interior ministry said 22 people were killed in attacks and hostage-taking in the Saudi oil city of Al-Khobar.
"GCC countries are in solidarity with Saudi Arabia in its struggle against terrorism in all its forms and whatever its origin and foundations," the statement said. "The security of the GCC countries is indivisible, and terrorism has become an international scourge which threatens world security and stability, necessitating the redoubling of international efforts in the struggle" against this phenomenon, it added.
The GCC groups Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman and Qatar. Kuwait, meanwhile, said it strongly "condemns and deplores the criminal terrorist attack in Al-Khobar and expresses regret over the killing of innocent victims."
"The cabinet renews Kuwait's full solidarity and support for the brothers in Saudi Arabia in all measures it takes to firmly confront terrorism and the safety of its people and residents," said a statement issued after the weekly session.
In the UAE, Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed al-Nahyan also said his country stood firmly with Riyadh. The Emirates "supports Saudi Arabia with force in its war against the gangs of criminals, which provoke the spilling of innocent blood...and which disrupt security and stability," said Sheikh Hamdan, cited by the official WAM news agency.
Qatar's foreign ministry also "condemned the criminal attacks in Saudi Arabia and the hostage-taking which are terrorist acts in contradiction of Islam," the state news agency QNA reported.
Bahrain said it too "condemned the ignoble terrorist acts" in Al-Khobar, adding that Manama "supports Saudi Arabia ... which plays a central role in maintaining security and stability in the region."
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher phoned his Saudi counterpart Saud al-Faisal to "express condemnation by Egypt of this terrorist act which cost the life of several innocent civilians, including an Egyptian infant," his ministry said. -AFP
