RIYADH, Jan 13: Saudi Arabia has revealed the enormous scale of threat to the kingdom by putting on show an arsenal of weapons and 24 tonnes of explosives seized in a major crackdown on Islamist hardliners.

The authorities again vowed on Tuesday to wipe out "all the terrorist cells" as the state television replayed astonishing footage of enough military materiel to equip a small army.

At the same time, confessions by seven Saudi "members of terror cells", said to be involved in suicide bombings that left 52 dead last year, were also aired in a blaze of publicity.

An interior ministry statement said some 300 explosives belts as worn by suicide bombers and nearly 24 tonnes of explosive materials had been uncovered as part of the war on terror over the previous six months.

The statement said security forces had also seized 1,020 weapons such as Kalashnikov assault rifles and other arms, more than 352,300 rounds of ammunition and 674 detonators "for use in 350 bombings".

Communications equipment, timers and equipment to set up truck bombs were also seized. Television pictures showed the arsenal laid out on the floor piece by piece.

Security forces also seized over 300 rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and launchers and more than 430 hand-grenades, some locally made and others produced abroad.-AFP