Saudi king pardons Libyans

Published August 10, 2005

RIYADH, Aug 9: Three Libyans, including two intelligence officers, allegedly involved in a plot to assassinate Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz have been pardoned by the new monarch, a Saudi security source said on Tuesday.

The officers are Abdul Fattah al-Ghosh, who was arrested by Saudi security forces in Makkah in November 2003, and Colonel Mohammed Ismael, who fled to Cairo before being handed back by Egyptian authorities.

The third Libyan is a civilian, the security source told AFP.

An official statement said on Monday that Abdullah had pardoned a number of Libyans accused of plotting to assassinate him in 2003, but it did not give details.

The amnesty came on the same day as Abdullah, who acceded to the throne after the death of King Fahd last week, also pardoned three reformists, their lawyer and an activist.—AFP

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