strange turn of events?



Saudi terror conference opens
From correspondents in Riyadh
April 21, 2004

A CONFERENCE opened today in Saudi Arabia in search of scientific, educational and psychological ways to curb "terrorism", a major issue here with gun battles between Islamic extremists and police.

Crown Prince Abdullah opened the international gathering in the cpaital Riyadh devoted to the theme of "Islam's position on terrorism".

It will examine "Islam's position on violence and extremism and make scientific, educational, psychological and social proposals to fight the phenomenon of terrorism", said the president of Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, which specialises in Islamic studies.

Nearly 120 researchers and scholars from around the world are taking part in the three-day gathering.

Saudi Arabia has been conducting a relentless struggle against Islamic fundamentalists linked to the al-Qaeda network.

Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for suicide bombings targeting residential compounds in the capital in May and November of last year which killed 52 people, including eight US citizens.

Last week, the United States ordered non-essential diplomats and US citizens to leave the kingdom following deadly clashes with Islamic militants and the discovery of two car bombs.

"The US government has received recent and credible information indicating that extremists are planning further attacks against US and Western interests," the US State Department said.

The English-language Arab News reported on Friday that two wanted suspects had been arrested in Qasim province, quoting a report on an Islamist website some two days earlier.

Qasim, some 320 kilometres north of Riyadh, is the centre of the kingdom's strict Wahhabi creed and Islamic militants have been known to hide out in the region.

The reported arrests followed the killing of four policemen in separate shooting attacks on the road linking Riyadh and Qasim.

The incidents ended with the discovery of two explosives-laden cars and a third containing other weapons, the interior ministry said.

A day earlier, a Saudi security man and a militant were both killed during a gun battle in Riyadh's eastern Al-Faihaa neighbourhood, the Interior Ministry said.

"The mission of confrontation, which must be tackled with all firmness and force against all aggression aimed at harming our nation and its citizens, is not only the responsibility of security forces but the entire country," Okaz newspaper said on Friday.

Agence France-Presse
 http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,9344996%255E1702,00.html

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April 21st 2004
Possible Riyadh terror plot foiled

RIYADH: Saudi security forces discovered yesterday two cars laden with explosives which were apparently to be used in a terror attack in the capital, a security source said.
“The two car-bombs were to head for Riyadh for apparent use in attacks,” the source told AFP.
The discovery of the two vehicles, which were found in Arrumhiyah village 100 kilometres from Riyadh, brought to five the number of car-bombs seized in Saudi Arabia within the past week.
After the two cars were found, security forces, backed by helicopters, combed the region searching for armed men who managed to flee in a Jeep, residents of the area said.
An interior ministry official announced on Sunday the arrest of eight suspects linked to recent deadly clashes between militants and security forces and the booby-trapping of cars.
Security forces had also seized three vehicles packed with thousands of kilogrammes of explosives, including one they had been searching for since February, the official said, quoted by the state SPA news agency. – AFP
Last update on: 20-4-2004
 http://www.bahraintribune.com/ArticleDetail.asp?CategoryId=2&ArticleId=29083


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Strong Blast in Saudi Capital Riyadh
Wed Apr 21, 2004 07:31 AM ET

RIYADH (Reuters) - A strong blast was heard in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh Wednesday, witnesses said, and an Arab television station said it had occurred near a security forces building.
"I heard a strong blast and could seek smoke," a Reuters correspondent said. He said he saw smoke billowing from the al-Murabaa area in downtown Riyadh which houses state television, the information ministry and a security forces building.

Anther witness said the blast rattled windows of her house.

Dubai-based satellite channel Al Arabiya said an explosion was heard near a building housing security forces but gave no details.

Suicide bombings by militants believed to be linked to Saudi-born Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network killed 50 people last year in the kingdom, a key U.S. ally and the world's largest oil exporter.

Suspected Muslim militants killed at least five Saudi policemen last week and security forces defused three car bombs in the capital.

Thursday, the United States ordered its non-essential diplomats out of the Gulf Arab state and told all Americans that they should leave, citing fresh signals of possible attacks on U.S. and Western interests.

 http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=4892222