WASHINGTON, Oct 4: Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States hit out on Wednesday at US ‘bombast’ in calls for reform in his country and warned action was needed now on the Israeli-Palestinian peace track.

Ambassador Prince Turki al-Faisal’s remarks came as US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice toured the Middle East in a bid to court moderate Arab states which have shown growing impatience with US policies in the region.

While he said US-Saudi relations were in much better shape after a number of upsets in recent years, there were still areas of contention.

“We don’t mind being criticised. There is a well-known saying in Arabic: Your true friend is one who tells you the truth rather than one who simply agrees with you,” Prince Turki said.

“But it is the way in which Americans criticise, whether it is politicians or public figures or thought leaders, that causes us concern.

“We often hear political rhetoric and bombast and not constructive commentary,” he said, noting Americans wanted reform and change in Saudi society.

“That is on the agenda ... but we’re not going to change just because you tell us to,” Prince Turki said. “Making dictums leads nowhere. Constructive comments, on the other hand, are more helpful.”

His comments came in the context of President Bush’s instruction to Dr Rice to engage moderate Arab allies on strengthening Palestinian security services loyal to President Mahmud Abbas.—AFP