12 February 2005	Saturday	02 Muharram 1426

RIYADH, Feb 11: Saudi authorities have released two reformists earlier this week after more than two months of detention, a Saudi human rights group said in a statement on Friday.

Eissa Al-Hamed and Ahmed Al-Qaffary were arrested in December after arguing with police while trying to attend a trial of three pro-democracy advocates in Riyadh. The Human Rights First, a rights advocacy group based in eastern Saudi Arabia, welcomed the release of the two activists but said they deserved an apology and compensation for damages.

The organization said the two were released on Monday and were originally detained without a trial. Despite statements from officials that legal proceedings would be open, judges barred people from the trial of the three pro-democracy advocates that Al-Hamed and Al-Qaffary were trying to attend.

The three jailed activists were arrested in March last year after openly criticizing the strict religious environment and slow pace of reforms in the kingdom.

Some of the reformists had signed a letter to Crown Prince Abdullah calling for political, economic and social reforms, including parliamentary elections. They also apparently advocated a constitutional monarchy. The Human Rights First also questioned whether the two men would be allowed to travel after their release.