Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah vowed on Sunday to defeat terrorism in the kingdom and urged Saudis to unite behind this goal. Earlier this month it was announced that 136 foreign and Saudi extremists - some of whom were posing as pilgrims - who were planning a series of suicide bombings and assassinations had been detained.
"One feels sorry and pained when hearing that terrorism is present among us, but (terrorists) had been controlled by Satan and he pushes them into it," the official Saudi Press Agency quoted Abdullah as saying. "We do not commit aggression against anyone but those who commit aggression against us, should bear (the consequences). God willing, they will all be defeated."
In 2003, al-Qaeda launched a violent campaign to bring down the U.S.-allied Saudi monarchy, targeting foreigners, oil installations and government buildings. Gunmen killed two Saudi security personnel earlier this month when they opened fire on a guard post at a prison in Jeddah. The government has called on a number of suspects with potential links to terror cells to surrender to the authorities for questioning before the end of this month.
Comments