26 October 2004	Tuesday	11 Ramazan 1425

ISLAMABAD, Oct 25: Infomation Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Monday that Saudi diplomat who had received a parcel bomb and a threatening massage would not leave the country.

Talking to Dawn, the minister said the diplomat would remain in Pakistan and his security would be strengthened.

The embassy of Saudi Arabia on Monday received the parcel bomb and a message warning the ambassador to leave Pakistan.

Responding to a question, the minister said that the people who had sent the parcel bomb were yet to be identified.

He said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had very deep relations and such attempts were aimed at harming these ties.

"The terror suspects wanted to create problems for both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia."

Sheikh Rashid said the incident which had taken place in the most sensitive area of the capital had raised many questions and investigations were under way. But, he said, incidents of terrorism were taking place all over the world.

This is the third time that a Saudi diplomat in Islamabad had received a threatening message from terrorists.

In the earlier two incidents, the embassy had received live cartridges in parcels.

A security source said the incident had sparked alert in Islamabad.

The parcel containing four hand-grenades, four bullets of semi-machine gun and a letter was handed over to the security guard of the diplomat.

The parcel was handed over to the security guard at around 1:15am. Shortly after the explosive devices were detected in the parcel, the police and bomb experts were called.