RIYADH, Sept 27: Saudi Arabia will not deploy any military forces to neighbouring Iraq, Deputy Defence Minister Khaled bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz told Saturday’s Okaz newspaper.

“It is not in the interests of either country for Saudi Arabia to send troops to Iraq and we do not envisage doing so even if the UN Security Council passes a resolution,” to deploy a multinational force, he said.

“We have agreed with the Iraqis that it is not an opportune moment to deploy military troops from neighbouring countries to Iraq.”

Saudi Arabia refused to be dragged into the Iraq war alongside the United States and Britain and has remained on the sidelines since the Baath regime fell on April 9.—AFP