Saudi Arabia hits back at US' terror accusations
AFP
(Dubai, October 15)
Saudi Arabia struck back in anger Monday at accusations of being tolerant on terrorism, breaking its silence on the US-led war in Afghanistan, and objecting to the killing of innocents.
Interior Minister Prince Nayef, in remarks quoted by the official SPA news agency, also feistily charged that Saudi cooperation with the United States was better than Washington's cooperation with Riyadh.
It was the kingdom's first reaction to repeated allegations of being easy on terrorists, funding terrorism and failing to cooperate in the aftermath of the US suicide hijackings of September 11.
The verbal hostilities have been unleashed after weeks of simmering tensions between the world oil giant and the global superpower which have been close allies for decades.
"Security channels remained open between the two countries, and their security officials are aware that our cooperation with them was more positive than their cooperation with us," Nayef said.
"We wish that their (the US) cooperation with us will become better than it has been in the past and than what it is now," he added.
And Nayef went on the offensive over the deaths of civilians in the aerial onslaught against Afghan's Taliban regime and its protege, Saudi-born Osama bin Laden, in retaliation for the September 11 attacks in the United States .
"This will involve (killing) innocent people who are not guilty," he said, "Not all the Afghan people are responsible for what had happened.
"Undoubtedly, we are not at all pleased with this situation."
He repeated Riyadh's commitment to tackle terrorism, but also questioned US motives in an unusual fit of pique.
"We are against terrorism, whether the perpetrators were Saudis or non-Saudis. But it is strange that no other nationality, apart from Arabs, have been accused of carrying out this action," Nayef said.
Washington has failed to supply any evidence about the involvement of Saudi nationals in the September 11 attacks, the minister noted.
"I don't believe this is clear. There were more than 600 passengers on board the four (hijacked) planes. We are surprised why Arabs, particularly the Saudis, have been singled out (for blame).
"Until now, we have not received any confirmation, in the form of material evidence, that the Saudi suspects had carried out the attacks either alone or in cooperation with others."
At least half a dozen Saudis figure on US lists of suspects for the outrages the United States believes were masterminded by bin Laden, scion of one of the kingdom's wealthiest families.
Nayef also said Riyadh required proof of financing terrorism before cracking down.
"We have always been prepared to do this. But it is unacceptable to take any action without providing the evidence that there are some (suspicious) accounts in the kingdom."
He claimed that European countries and the United States had failed to respond to past Saudi efforts.
"We acted in the past and requested the United States, Britain and some European countries to cooperate with us in this field, but found no (positive) response," he said.
And he denied allegations that part of the funds raised by Islamic charities are funnelled to terrorism. "We guarantee that such funds will go only to those who deserve it," he said.
The chairman of the Islamic Banks Union, Saudi billionaire Saleh Kamel, told the pan-Arab newspaper Al-Hayat Islamic banks had not started freezing any assets following the US request and had not received detailed lists of assets suspected of funding terrorism.
But he did acknowledge that some accounts might be suspicious.
The New York Times ran scathing comments Sunday alleging Saudi "tolerance for terrorism" and urging the United States to reform its "cold-blooded bargain" with the Gulf kingdom that trades oil for US military protection.
An editorial in the Saudi newspaper Okaz betrayed the anger the accusations have stirred.
The daily charged that "Zionists controlling the media in the United States are behind the false accusations against the kingdom.
"The main object of this Zionist media ... is to continue to mislead foreign policy institutions away from the real interests of the United States.
"Those who say that the kingdom is behind the Al-Qaeda organisation may as well say that the United States is also behind Al-Qaeda," Okaz said.
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