RIYADH, Aug 29: Saudi Arabia has been successful in blocking about $90 million funds from reaching the Al Qaeda network in the past few months, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al Faisal said.

This revelation was particularly important in the backdrop of recent allegation in the Western media that the funds had reached Al Qaeda and the former Taliban government in the past from Saudi Arabia.

In an interview with BBC, Prince Saud emphasised that there still remained a ‘very serious’ threat from the Al-Qaeda. “We expect the worst and work for the worst, and that is why we are so active in the pursuit of everything that allows us to find information, provide it to our friends and allies and work together to dissipate any threat and danger”, he said.

“Saudi Arabia has cooperated completely with the US, and this stems not from the friendship between the two countries alone, but also because terrorism is as much targeting Saudi Arabia as it was targeting the US”, the prince added.

He also reiterated the well-known Saudi position that it would be unwise for the international community to try to force Saddam Hussein out of the power in Baghdad and install his replacement.

“Whether Saddam remains or is removed from power is up to the Iraqis”, he added.

The minister told BBC that Saudi Arabia was keen to maintain the unity and the territorial integrity of Iraq.

Prince Saud also said pressure from the United States on Saddam could only strengthen the resolve of the ordinary Iraqis.