RIYADH, Aug 29: The Saudi government has released more than 700 suspected militants, described as ‘sympathisers of Al Qaeda’, over the last three years. Mansour al Turki, a spokesman for the Saudi interior ministry, also said the government would put on trial some detainees suspected of involvement in attacks on important installations.

The spokesman claimed a counsellimg programme undertaken by the government for the detainees had managed to change their mindset, persuading them to give up militancy.

“They (the released militants) are (Al Qaeda) sympathisers. There are many of this kind of people, who are subject to the process of an advisory committee. Hundreds of them have gone through this and been released,” Mr Turki said.

“They were arrested in the first place because they aroused suspicion, but there was no hard evidence against them linking them to any terrorist act or planning.”